Support for mini- golf on Maggie

MAGNETIC Island’s next tourism attraction has been revealed with plans lodged for an 18- hole mini- golf course and shopping complex.

Applicant and landowner Melinda Attwell has lodged an application via Milford Planning with Townsville City Council to transform a house site on the island into a familyfriendly venue.

The impact- assessable application seeks to redevelop the 8860 sqm 122 Sooning St, Nelly Bay site into a four- tenancy shopping centre and 18hole mini- golf course.

Caretaker’s accommoda- tion and a new dwelling house have also been proposed for the site.

The proposed shopping centre is about 320m from the Nelly Bay Ferry Terminal and the mini- golf course is designed to operate from 8am- 5pm and cater to a maximum of 72 players ( four per hole) at any given time.

The new attraction, if approved, would operate seven days a week during school holidays and Thursday- Sunday during off- peak times.

Development would be carried out in stages with the caretaker’s accommodation to be built first, followed by demolition of the existing duplex.

The shopping centre and mini- golf course would be built next before the construction of the new dwelling house.

Townsville Enterprise tour- ism and events director Bridget Woods said the group supported any investment in new products on the island.

Ms Woods assumed the developers would work closely with the council to ensure it met all criteria and said investor interest in a project like this was encouraging.

Fish’n N Fuel’n owner Janie Brooker said the proposal was “awesome”.

“Mini- golf would be absolutely fabulous,” she said.

“We do get a lot of families ( visit the island).”

Tropical Topless Car Rentals customer service member Jessie Brittain said the prospect of a new attraction on the island would be a great boost.

“It wouldn’t hurt the island at all,” she said. “I think it’d be great. I think the more activities to do over here the better.”