Govt lays down integrated resort requirements

Strict government standards have been laid down so that any new major integrated resort developments in Queensland meet international tourist expectations.

Minister for State Development and Minister for Natural Resources and Mines Dr Anthony Lynham told State Parliament today the Palaszczuk Government had agreed on conditions to ensure resorts met the demands of tourists.

“Tourists, and particularly those from the growing Asian tourism markets, demand large resorts, with an array of facilities within easy access of an international airport,” he said.

“They want the whole package in one location.”

Dr Lynham outlined the conditions in a Ministerial Statement to Parliament today, saying they would apply if one of two existing regional development proposals did not proceed.

“If one or both of the current regional IRD proposals do not go ahead, the government may go back to the market to seek expressions of interest for the available regional licences,” he said.

Dr Lynham told Parliament any new integrated resort developments in regional Queensland would:

• need to include significant capital investment and have to commence construction within 18 months of contractual close.
• need to be in, or within close proximity to, a major population centre with a catchment of no fewer than 150,000 people within a 70 kilometre radius from the city centre.
• have two elements: be near an operational international airport or an airport that is capable of being readily upgraded to international standard to generate high tourist volumes so the target market is international rather than domestic and
• have well-established transport networks and significant existing tourism infrastructure with identified growth potential.

Dr Lynham said Cairns, Rockhampton, Townsville, Mackay, the Gold and Sunshine Coasts and “other proud cities in Queensland” could satisfy the threshold criteria and potentially attract a number of overseas tourists needed to sustain an IRD.

“Let me be clear: this policy position is not about casinos. Like all of our policies, this is about jobs and economic development,” he said.

“Tourism contributes $23 billion to the Queensland economy and supports 230,000 jobs. 

“The Queensland Government’s goal is to increase annual international visitor expenditure from $3.8 billion to more than $9 billion by 2020.”

[ENDS]           16 March, 2016

Media contact:           Jan Martin                   0439 341 314