HEDLEY’S Hotelier to cash in on port’s dredge waste plan $10.8M SPOILS
Trinity Inlet proposal to dump spoil on land owned by former high-profile developer
FORMER high-profile developer Tom Hedley (right) could land a multimillion-dollar windfall from the dredging of Trinity Inlet.
Development applications for works associated with the $120 million project – to widen and deepen the city’s shipping channel to allow for larger cruise ships – involve dumping spoil at Mr Hedley’s Holloways Beach quarry.
Cairns Port Development Inc president Ron Crew welcomed the progress on the project, but said: “It certainly seems like a generous amount of money.”
THE dredging of Trinity Inlet is shaping up to be a multimillion-dollar windfall for former Cairns pub baron Tom Hedley.
The former high profile developer is the owner of Northern Sands, the Holloways Beach quarry where 1 million cubic metres of dredge spoil is proposed to be dumped, as part of the Cairns Shipping Development Project.
Development applications for earthworks associated with the $120 million project – to widen and deepen the city’s shipping channel to accommo- date larger cruise ships – were lodged last week with Cairns Regional Council.
The plans detail the first phase of the project, involving the construction of the “Northern Sands Dredge Material Placement Area” on land within the Barron Delta, containing Mr Hedley’s sand quarry, waste disposal and processing facility.
New bunds would be built at the quarry, which would be used alongside the placement of soft clay dredge material from Trinity Inlet.
The dredge spoil is to be delivered from the inlet into the area as a slurry.
Ports North’s revised environmental impact statement (EIS) for the project shows site acquisition for the land placement of the dredge spoil will cost $10.8 million.
Compensation costs to other land holders may also be part of the costs.
Mr Hedley declined to comment yesterday, citing a confidentiality agreement with the port authority.
The Gordonvale-born plumber became one of Australia’s richest property moguls, with BRW’s Rich 200 list estimating his worth to be about $715 million in 2007.
When the global financial crisis hit later in the decade, his businesses Hedley Constructions, Hedley Developments and pub business Hedz was placed into receivership.
Cairns Port Development Incorporated president Ron Crew welcomed the project progressing to development application stage, however questioned the amount of money Northern Sands would be receiving for taking on the dredge spoil.
“It certainly seems like a generous amount of money,” he said. Ports North did not respond to questions about the cost of placing dredge spoil at Mr Hedley’s quarry yesterday.
In a statement, a Ports North spokeswoman said lead approvals consultants had been appointed by the authority to assist in procuring all development approvals required.
“One of the development approvals required relates to operational works (earthworks) to be carried out on land located at the Northern Sands site,” she said.
“Ports North have commenced the development approval process with Cairns Regional Council in preparation for these works to commence as soon as possible after project approvals are finalised.”