Governments fast track Cairns’ Aquis integrated resort development

The Federal Government is to fast-track the environmental assessment of the $4.2 billion Aquis Great Barrier Reef Resort on a site at Yorkeys Knob, north of Cairns.

Federal Environment Minister Greg Hunt is allowing the Queensland Government to also examine the implications of the project on a national level, in particular the World Heritage areas of the Great Barrier Reef and the Wet Tropics.

Keen to move forward with the integrated resort development, Hong Kong billionaire Tony Fung has recently argued there is no need for Federal Government approvals. However, Minister Hunt’s office have advised that the development “will need a full Federal environmental assessment through an environmental-impact statement.”

The statement from Minister Hunt’s office continued “the Queensland Government’s assessment processes have been accredited for this assessment, meaning that government will undertake the assessment but an approval decision under national environmental law rests with the Federal Government.

“The assessment and approval process set out is open and thorough, taking into ­account expert scientific advice and public comments.

“Once the assessment is complete, the Federal Government will consider the assessment and make a decision.”

An Aquis spokesman said the decision by the Federal Government to allow Queensland to do both assessments was a critical step.

The spokeperson explained “this is another important milestone for the project and we welcome the Federal Government’s decision.

“The decision means the Queensland Government will assess the impacts to matters of national environmental significance as part of the state assessment to ensure a timely and efficient process.

“The decision does not mean there will be any change in the environmental standards which apply to the project.”’

The spokesman told The Cairns Post that a detailed environmental impact statement was expected to be released publicly soon.

Earlier, in a submission to the Federal Department of Environment, Fung argued there was no need for Commonwealth environmental approval and the proposed resort did not trigger the need for a separate Commonwealth environmental assessment.

The proposed resort, which would be the largest non-resources construction project in Australia, will cover 340 hectars of cane fields on the Barron River delta which is prone to flooding and storm surges.

In a submission, prepared by consultants and signed-off by Fung, Aquis argues that the likely impact of the project on the environment was not significant enough to warrant Commonwealth assessment.

Released on the Federal Environment Department website, the report was prepared to argue against a ‘controlled action’” under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. Aquis also said it had completed a draft environmental impact statement for the Queensland Government, but had yet to submit it for approval.

The first stage of the Aquis development includes nine luxury hotels totalling 3,750 rooms, 1,200 apartments and 135 villas, 13,500 metre2 of high-end retail shopping, an international-class casino, an aquarium, two 2,500-seat theatres, a 13 hectare reef lagoon, a 65 hectare lake, an 18-hole golf course, a 25,000 seat sports stadium, a 45,000 metre2 convention and exhibition centre, 1,800 staff accommodation units and a cultural heritage centre.

Later stages will include more hotels, an expansion of the convention centre and a golf course.

2nd April 2014 - REVISED PLANS RELEASED FOR CAIRNS’ AQUIS INTEGRATED RESORT

21st February 2014 - QUEENSLAND GOVERNMENT KEEN TO ATTRACT ‘INTEGRATED RESORT’ DEVELOPMENTS

15th October 2013 - CAMPBELL NEWMAN SLAMS QUEENSLAND TOURISM, BACKS NEW CASINOS