Fingers crossed on resort
THE developers of a new $100 million eco-resort at Ellis Beach will start construction in six months time if approval is granted by the Federal Government and local council.
Project director for Melbourne-based Bellbird Park Development Steve Harrison said a recently expired public notification period had not attracted any submissions against the one-hectare resort.
The developers were compelled by the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act to show the project would not adversely impact the section of Wet Tropics rainforest it would be built upon nor the opal cling goby, common mistfrog, waterfall frog and Australian lacelid.
“It’s been a long road, but it’s not too far away now,” Mr Harrison said, after previously talking to the Cairns Post in 2015 about the project’s imminent delivery.
“We are pretty excited to try and get it through, it’s a good time in Cairns for this and we believe the resort is something which will complement the market in Cairns.
“We are confident of get- ting the approvals. The feedback to date is pretty positive.”
Mr Harrison said much of the resort would be built on top of pillars of columns to avoid damaging the sensitive environment.
He likened it to the Thala Beach Nature Reserve further north near Port Douglas and said it would require 50 staff to operate.
The second stages would include a hotel and more villas.
Mr Harrison said he expected a decision from the Federal Government in two months that would enable the business to start seeking approvals for the design with Cairns Regional Council.
“There is certainly a lot of opportunities to educate people who stay there in the treetops in the villas or near the road about the wildlife that exist there and the plants that exist there,” he said.
“Historically there was a bit of tree clearing done with an Energex line, but because we’re irrigating part of the site it will help additional vegetation come back.”
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