Proposed Cairns mega-resort will help Port Douglas: Ratcliffe
Proposed Cairns mega-resort will help Port Douglas: Ratcliffe
Friday May 16 2014, 12:11pm
A luxury resort developer has thrown his support behind the proposed Aquis mega-resort, quashing reports that the $8.15 billion project will take away from the region's natural beauty.
R and R Group CEO Leigh Ratcliffe presented at the Douglas Futures Forum on Thursday, updating around 100 guests on the $150 million upgrades to the Port Douglas Sheraton Mirage.
But Mr Ratcliffe was keen to weigh in on the impact the proposed Aquis resort may have if it is approved by the state government.
The architect who designed the master plan for Palm Cove and developed Port Douglas' Peppers Beach Club Hotel said the community had 'nothing to fear' from the 343-hectare Yorkeys Knob development and could create a new identity for itself in the tourism marketplace.
"Aquis will help Port Douglas," Mr Ratcliffe said.
"We shouldn't be afraid of projects like that. We should be welcoming it, let it put Cairns, Port Douglas and the region on the map, then gain from it."
The comments followed on from some international tourism delegates expressing concern that Aquis would take away some of the region's small town charm at the Australian Tourism Exchange in Cairns earlier this week.
But Tourism Minister Jann Stuckey said the benefits of Aquis for Port Douglas would be felt immediately.
"You will automatically get an overflow from a project like Aquis," Ms Stuckey said.
"Aquis is a very exciting project and it's going through the proper checks and balances. I believe it's going to add enormous value to the region and what we need is to do in Queensland is grow the pie."
Ms Stuckey said the resort echoed the state government's desire to double overnight visitor expenditure in Queensland from $15 billion in 2010 to $30 billion by 2020 but she added that didn't mean the project would be rushed through.
"I'm really confident that the government is environmentally sensitive and that we have the proper conditions in there and that we'll be able to monitor that. That's why projects like this are being carefully thought about."
Ms Stuckey, who was the keynote speaker at the Douglas Futures Forum, said she was encouraged by what she had heard from tourism operators in the region.
"We are in a very competitive field and ... we're hearing of a need to refresh the product but [we] don't want to lose the flavour and uniqueness of Port Douglas," she said.
"It will never be home to massive resorts but it will be a haven for people who want to experience the exquisite landscape and produce."
If approved, Aquis is expected to be completed by 2018 and feature nine luxury hotels and a world-class casino.
