KUR-World plan panned
CONSERVATIONISTS have labelled the revised master plan for an integrated resort at Kuranda as “more ridiculous” than when the multimilliondollar project was first proposed.
KUR-World developers Reever and Ocean Pty Ltd’s new plan for the $640 million development at Myola now includes about 50 hectares of buffer zones around creek areas linked to habitat of the myola free frog.
The proponents have also concentrated heavy vehicle movements, rather than spread them out over the rainforest property, to minimise impact on the environment.
Jo Martin from local activist group KUR Alert described the revised plan as “even more disruptive to the local environment and community than the initial version.”
“This land is currently and properly zoned ‘rural’, which precludes mega-developments such as the KUR-World,” she said.
“In my opinion, Mr (developer Ken) Lee should never have gotten beyond base one with his ludicrous proposal.”
The development is to include a 200-villa five-star resort, 70-room medical retreat, a university with accommodation for 300 students, a village plaza and retail area, a 270-room leisure and business resort, conference and equestrian centres, an 18-hole golf course, 373 residential villas, a farm theme park with accommodation and an adventure park and rainforest education centre.
The developers are still compiling the project’s Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).
Ms Martin said the project should never have become the subject of an EIS but project and development manager Mark Lawson said the landuse was unchanged in the revised master plan.
“All we have done is protect more of the environmental habitat for the species that are protected,” he said.
Concerned people are invited to an open day on June 3.
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