PARADISE UPGRADED
10 Aug 2017
In a coordinated project with the Queensland Government, the stunning tropical oasis of Lindeman Island in the Whitsundays is set to undergo a $600 million redevelopment in a bid to boost tourism in the region.
The proposal for the redevelopment includes the construction of a marina, six-star spa resort and five-star eco resort by developer White Horse Australia Lindeman Pty Ltd.
Currently in the draft environment impact stage, State Development Minister Anthony Lynham said the development was the first “coordinated project” declared in Queensland for 18 months. If the plans are approved, nearly 37 hectares of Lindeman Island National Park will be privatised.
The island’s previous recreation facility, the Club Med Resort, was one of the many victims of Tropical Cyclone Yasi, falling into disrepair and ultimately closing in January 2012. The resort was subsequently purchased for $12 million in 2012 by White Horse’s owner, China-based media mogul William Han, who then submitted a masterplan for a $583 million redevelopment project – the Lindeman Great Barrier Reef Resort.
Designed by DBI Architects, the design aims to create a luxury resort that responds to the world heritage values of the Great Barrier Reef and incorporates best practice in sustainable design and construction.
Lindeman Island is located approximately 35 kilometres south-east of Shute Harbour and 13 kilometres south of Hamilton Island. The island is located within the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area and has a total area of 637 hectares, with the existing resort located on perpetual and term leases, covering approximately 138 hectares. The balance of the island is National Park.
The project will include:
- The redevelopment of the existing beach resort into a new 5-star facility with 136 suites, conference centre, beach club and a central facilities building with restaurants, bars and lounges
- A new 6‐star spa resort with 59 villas, central facilities, entry lounge, spa, sea view restaurant, pool and a signature rock bar providing spectacular alfresco dining close to the sea
- A new 5-star eco resort near the existing lake consisting of 41 villas, a central facility, boathouse and a waterside restaurant
- Two new precincts accommodating 89 tourist villas to the north‐east and north‐west of the existing resort
- A central village precinct comprising restaurants, bar, night club, conference facility buildings, arrival centre, shops, sport and recreation centre and a staff village
- A new services infrastructure precinct providing services including power generation (solar with diesel back‐up), sewage treatment, and water treatment
- The upgrade of the existing airstrip to provide for near all‐weather status, and light aircraft and helicopters landing capability
- Upgrades to the existing jetty and additional moorings
- Upgrades to the existing recreational golf course
- A National Park and Great Barrier Reef Education Centre and 30 “glamping” facilities
- Native vegetation replanting, improvements to stormwater management and a shift towards renewable energy sources.
“The qualities of the tropical island setting will be embraced and complemented through the design approach, reinforcing its uniqueness and a ‘sense of place’ experience for its visitors,” White Horse’s masterplan claims.
“The proposed core island facilities, hotels and guest suites will be immersed into the setting with the vegetation used to provide privacy and intimacy and blur the boundaries between nature and the built forms.”
Minister Lynham said that while the redevelopment is consistent with the State Government’s Advancing Tourism plan to support growth and jobs in the tourism industry, its location within the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area requires the implementation of appropriate safeguards to protect the Reef.
According to White Horse’s proposal, the project is likely to create an average of 865 construction-related jobs each year onsite and offsite during the construction period and a further 300 full-time equivalent jobs on the Island once operational.
Operationally the resort is expected to contribute $140 million to the Mackay Region’s Gross Regional Product and $195 million to Queensland’s Gross Product.
White Horse is currently awaiting a result on their recently submitted Environmental Impact Study, with public comments welcome until September. While no specific timeline has been released, the resort is expected to reach completion by 2020.
Images courtesy of DBI Architects