Project plan lease target
DEVELOPERS of a proposed indigenous eco-tourism attraction at East Trinity say work to secure a 30-year lease of the land they need is already well in progress.
Mandingalby Yidinji Aboriginal Corporation spokesman Dewayne Mundraby said the organisation presented its vision and business case to Cairns Regional Council a week ago and was confident of its prospects.
“We didn’t just walk out of a tent and a light bulb came on. It’s $300,000 worth of technical studies designed to meet the requirements of the Cairns Regional Council planning scheme,” Mr Mundraby said.
“What we’re proposing is grounded and realistic. We’re not proposing the next shiny thing to be attracted to.”
The ambitious $39 million project involves building three 33m-tall observation towers, zipline cables and other infrastructure across a 1.1km boardwalk at East Trinity, accessible by boat from Cairns.
Visitors will be able to stay overnight in small tent-sized structures for a “sleeping with the crocs” experience on small floating jetties — out among nature but safe from attack.
Mr Mundraby said the project was fully costed with a thorough business case outlining its job and revenue-generating prospects for the nearby Yarrabah community.
He rejected the suggestion that future residential development was likely for East Trinity or that it would impinge on the tourism project.
“In terms of the trustee lease, we’re actually working with Queensland National Parks, Sports and Racing on that right now,” he said.
“The area is dedicated for environmental purposes, and even in the Cairns Regional Plan, it doesn’t plan for any of that sort of thing (residential development) at all.”
Mr Mundraby said he had gained certain assurances from Ports North before the release of the Cairns Shipping Development’s Environmental Impact Statement.
“Even if they were to dedicate East Trinity Reserve as a dredge spoil site, we’re not a constraint and it wouldn’t impact on our project,” he said.
The Mandingalby Yidinji Aboriginal Corporation is hoping to fund the project with assistance from the state and federal governments, the Indigenous Land Corporation and donations from the general public.
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