Plans labelled ‘insult’
KUR-WORLD has been labelled an “insult” to Kuranda, with the controversial development set to tower five storeys above the rainforest.
Queensland’s Co-ordinator General has extended the consultation period for the $650 million eco-resort project proposed for the Myola Valley near Kuranda, until January 14.
The extension was granted after several Far Northerners wrote to the Coordinator General requesting more time to lodge submissions on KUR-World’s recently released draft environmental impact statement (EIS).
The project is to include a five-star 200-room eco-resort, a four-star 270 apartment hotel, 56 lifestyle villas, 286 premium villas, tertiary education campus, 12-hole golf course, adventure park with zip line, rainforest education centre and retail, commercial and dining precinct.
The draft EIS states that while the built form of the development will be generally low-rise, “the eco-resort, KUR Village, KUR-World campus, and the business and leisure hotel and function centre would contain some buildings up to five storeys (up to 23m high), plus a possible viewing tower in the village up to 24m”.
The EIS also states the top section of the proposed eastern zip line tower may be seen “as fleeting glimpses” from the Kuranda Scenic Railway, about 3km away but “will not detract from the overall experience of the rail journey for visitors due to the viewing distance and nature of the structure.”
Developer Reever & Ocean Pty Ltd has since clarified the document to the Cairns Post, saying the proposed upper parts of the zip line tower may only be viewed from the Savannahlander, as it passed through Myola twice a week from March-December each year.
Steven Nowakowski, the president of community action group KUR-Alert, said the new KUR-Village campus and hotel would be an insult to the rural and visual amenity of the district.
“No 3D models, technical drawings or artist impressions are available to convey aesthetic quality, or lack thereof, with this high-density development,” he said.
KUR-World project director Mark Lawson said the visual impact assessment undertaken as part of the EIS had shown that the project would be mostly concealed.