North Queensland Country Club and Equestrian Centre declared a coordinated project

The North Queensland Country Club Resort and Equestrian Centre has been declared a coordinated project with Queensland’s Coordinator-General now commencing an environmental impact assessment on a possible $1 billion country club resort and equestrian centre at Toolakea Beach, 30 kilometres north-west of Townsville.

The resort is anticipated to inject more than $360 million of tourism spending each year in the Townsville region.

Welcoming the development, Queensland Minister for State Development, Manufacturing, Infrastructure and Planning, Cameron Dick commented "subject to approvals, construction of Stage 1 could start in 2022 and the resort could commence taking guests two years later.

“The proponent estimates the resort will take up to 240,000 visitors per year based on its 560 rooms in Stage 1."

Member for Townsville, Scott Stewart commented "the equestrian centre will include world-class indoor and outdoor training arenas, training yards, horse stabling, veterinarian services and cross-country trails, with beach-front access to Halifax Bay and an ability to host international events such as polo matches, show jumping and rodeo events.

“The proponent has advised the majority of the site would be retained as open space, including sport and recreation areas, a range of coastal environments, creeks and waterways and vegetation communities.”

Minister Dick said the independent Coordinator-General will now undertake a rigorous environmental assessment process for the entire project, adding "the Coordinator-General will now prepare draft terms of reference for the environmental impact statement (EIS) and invite the community for public comment.”

Minister Dick said the proponent will then have to produce a comprehensive EIS for the project that considers all potential environmental, social, economic and infrastructure impacts.

Key issues that will be investigated through the EIS include vegetation disturbance, potential impacts on the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, onsite wastewater treatment, traffic and transport, flooding, increased use of the beach and natural hazards such as cyclones.