Demolition kicks off
Work on site of proposed $250m resort
ONE of the Far North’s biggest foreign investors has started demolishing part of a marina it plans to turn into the region’s first six-star hotel.
The remodelling work along the Port Douglas waterfront was ticked off by Douglas Shire Council almost two months ago.
The work involves tearing down the marina’s former On the Inlet seafood restaurant, which has been abandoned since October 2017.
Ghassan Aboud’s key lieutenant in Australia and acting Crystalbrook chief executive Geoff York said the heavy machinery was not a sign of foundations being laid for the planned $250m resort.
“We are doing some beautification work and tidying up some derelict structures at that end of the site,” he said.
“It was looking a little bit tired around that area and we realised it wasn’t a great look for people coming in and out of the marina. And with some of the operators recommencing on the water in recent times we just thought it was time to progress with it,” Mr York said.
The company’s desire to build a luxury 100-room fivestar and a 30-room ultra-lux hotel along the Port Douglas waterfront was undiminished, but remained on the backburner given the current international tourism shutdown, he said.
Douglas Shire Mayor Michael Kerr said that removing the “eyesore” at the former restaurant was welcomed.
“It will certainly make it look more presentable down there as it was becoming a bit of an eyesore,” Cr Kerr said.
“It will make it look a lot nicer for the tourists going in and out if the inlet area.
“What we are certainly looking forward to more is Crystalbrook putting in a development application to build a world class resort down at the marina.”
IT WAS LOOKING A LITTLE BIT TIRED AROUND THAT AREA ... IT WASN’T A GREAT LOOK FOR PEOPLE COMING IN AND OUT OF THE MARINA GEOFF YORK OF CRYSTALBROOK