Ella Bay Resort gets Federal Government approval

The Federal Government has approved Queensland's biggest-ever tourism development a $1.4 billion ecotourism and residential community at Ella Bay, near Innisfail in Tropical Far North Queensland.
In granting approval, Federal Environment Minister Tony Burke set 19 conditions to minimise potential environmental impacts, and reinforced 38 conditions pertaining to environmental issues regarding animals, water quality and road access set set by the Queensland Coordinator-General.
The approval was welcomed by Queensland Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development Jeff Seeney who stated "this is great news for Queensland and opens the way now for the proponent Satori Ella Bay Pty Ltd to obtain the necessary approvals for this major project to proceed.
"The approval underlines our commitment to tourism as part of the state's four pillar economy.
"Over a 15 year construction period, the developer expects to employ a peak workforce of about 400 in year eight.
"Once completed, it will create more than 800 full-time operational jobs, as well as 240 part-time peak-season jobs.
"The development is likely to generate $256 million a year in expenditure by visitors staying in the region, and $50 million in State Government taxes and duties."
The Ella Bay Integrated Resort Development (although the term 'integrated resort' should not be confused with Singapore's gambling-based integrated resorts) will include three resort precincts, four residential precincts, a retail village, an 18 hole golf course, a swimming lagoon and a cassowary research and education centre on the site of a 450 hectare cattle property.
The goal of Ella Bay will be to develop a world class ecologically sustainable community, with emphasis on the environment; protection, research and conservation and sustainable development; designed to promote self- sufficiency, particularly in relation to energy.

http://www.ellabay.com.au