Time for Mr Wu to leave

The first step in giving elusive investor Benny Wu the flick from Double Island is underway with the State Department of Resources starting forfeiture action for him to be stripped of the lease he paid $5.68m for in 2012.

Mr Wu has had more than a decade to bring the dilapidated resort and day use facilities including public amenities up to scratch, and there is no evidence anything has been done.

Last August the government issued a March 31 deadline to have the resort – which once hosted Alisters – and day use facilities up and running.

That deadline was ignored, although Mr Wu did provide a report to the department.

Double Island’s proximity to the premier tourism mecca of Palm Cove and to the airport make it an appetising prospect for an investor willing to restore it to its former glory.

Millionaire property magnate and Core Asset Development group senior adviser John Pallister has told the Cairns Post he’s keen to buy Double Island – but he can’t get in touch with the mysterious

Mr Wu.

After 28 days, the matter will be referred to the Land Court, which will ultimately decide if the lease will be stripped.

Two audits by Cairns Regional Council in recent years have shown the island to be in sad disrepair and the department did an audit in early 2022.

Palm Cove Tourism boss Tony Richards relied on council’s most recent audit for his submission to the government inquiry into the state of island resorts.

It said the site was in no condition to provide any sort of facility for tourism, general and construction waste was accumulating, there was coastal erosion, the mooring had deteriorated and could not be used and there were no working effluent systems.

It is about time the state government acted.

Mr Wu has had since 2012 to get going on it.

It’s high time Mr Wu was stripped of the privilege of owning Double Island, to position the 17ha landmark as a jewel in our tourism crown rather than a decaying and decrepit site.

- Bronwyn Farr