Berth of grand vision
Nod for Port Douglas marina upgrade buoys town
THE $85 million redevelopment of The Reef Marina at Port Douglas has been given the green light.
Two years of negotiations between the marina owners, the Douglas Shire Council and the State Government on the rejuvenation of the seaside town’s waterfront cleared the council vote unanimously yesterday.
Mayor Julia Leu said it was a “historic moment”.
“We are, of course, aware that the Port Douglas Marina has been the focus of significant development interest over a number of years, but for various reasons projects have never got off the ground,” she said.
Councillors at the special meeting praised the application and the strenuous negotiations that took place.
Councillor David Carey noted the difficulties the complex application presented to the shire.
“There’s no question at all that the consideration of this development application has presented challenges to the council,” he said.
“(It was) certainly the greatest challenges in considering any DA since this council was de-amalgamated.”
The viability of the marine industries in the shire was thrown into question early in the process but, among other things, Cr Carey said the approved development represented the best outcome.
“I can assure the community and the developer that we have tried to ensure as far as possible that the development accommodates the Port Douglas waterfront masterplan, that public access to the water’s edge at Dickson Inlet is preserved, the future viability of the Douglas fishing industry is not adversely impacted and the marine industry generally – particularly the operation of a viable, commercially competitive slipway – is not adversely impacted,” he said.
Marina co-owner Andrew Hooper-Nguyen, who attended the meeting, said: “We’re very pleased with the council’s decision. Our next step is to progress the detailed design work, activate our consultant team and to advance the additional approvals required.”
Tourism Port Douglas and Daintree executive officer Tara Bennett said the development was “absolutely crucial to the long-term development not only of our reef industry, but the community’s waterfront assets’’.