Proposed Shute Harbour Marina moves to next step

Queensland’s Coordinator General has recommended the Shute Harbour Marina development near Airlie Beach can proceed subject to proponents meeting a number of environmental, land use and cultural heritage conditions.

Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning Jeff Seeney said, should the project go ahead, it had the potential to create 107 construction and 245 operational jobs.

“The release of the Coordinator General’s evaluation report on the marina’s Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) represents another step in the assessment process for the potential $252 million project,” Mr Seeney said.

“It’s now up to the proponents to demonstrate they can meet the conditions set by the Coordinator General.

“The proposal to build an integrated marina, resort hotel and residential development at Shute Harbour languished for seven long years under Labor, but the Newman Government has provided a clear pathway ahead for developers to consider taking their next step.

“We promised to boost growth in the tourism pillar of the Queensland economy and streamline approvals processes to ensure projects have their best chance of success and we are delivering on that commitment."

Mr Seeney said the project’s impacts on matters of national environmental significance were assessed under the bilateral assessment agreement between the Australian Government and the State of Queensland.

“This is the first single-assessment report to be released under the recently signed Memorandum of Understanding between the two levels of government,” he said.

“The Shute Harbour Marina is one of three major coastal tourism projects approved by the Coordinator General in the past year – the others being the $1.4 billion integrated tourism and residential community at Ella Bay and the $600 million Great Keppel Island eco-resort.”

The Coordinator General’s report prescribed environmental conditions requiring that proponents of the Shute Harbour Marina development must:

• survey and relocate any animals and plants of conservation significance prior to construction;
• offset project impacts on land-based and marine plants and animals;
• conduct a 12-month baseline water quality study prior to construction;
• monitor water quality and seagrass beds for the life of the project;
• include a maintenance dredge material rehandling facility;
• use dredge material for construction or dispose of it on land;
• develop a contingency plan to manage and clean up environmental incidents such as spills.

The proposed Shute Harbour Marina development includes 395 marina berths, a retirement resort (70 apartments), a resort hotel (109 suites), a managed resort (49 lots), cyclone shelter and an indigenous cultural centre.

To find out more about the project, visit: www.dsdip.qld.gov.au/shute-harbour-marina

[ENDS] 10 December 2013

Media Contact: Jane Paterson 0417 281 754 or Elizabeth Spry 0418 928 744