Port Douglas set for resurgence with $100m plan

PORT Douglas has not seen investment on this scale since the era of Christopher Skase.

Syrian billionaire Ghassan Aboud has bought the Port Douglas Reef Marina with a redevelopment plan worth more than $100 million.

Under the banner of his hospitality and tourism company Crystalbrook Collection, he plans to build a 100-room five-star hotel, 50 luxury apartments and add 24 berths to the renamed Crystalbrook Superyacht Marina.

“With our plans, we believe we can redefine the Australian marina experience and ensure Port Douglas is an essentialvisit location for high-end glo- bal travellers,” he said.

Mr Aboud’s lawyers met in Sydney with the legal team of the marina’s now-former owners Andrew Hooper-Nguyen and Chris Ellis to sign over ownership at 3pm yesterday.