Unprecedented opportunity for First Nations people

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Fairmont Resort

Howard Salkow

Senior Journalist

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Last updated: 13/12/2021, 13:30:00 (AEST)

Terry O’Shane (above), of Kubirriwarra Yalanji Aboriginal Corporation, said he is thrilled with the partnership agreement entered into with Chiodo Corporation. Image: ABC

Despite a legal battle, and town planners who successfully convinced the shire’s five councillors to reject the Development Application because it conflicted with the Planning Scheme, Fairmont Resort developer Paul Chiodo is pursuing with his plans and brushing aside the hurdles that stand in his way.

And in his latest move, he has revealed he is set to offer an exceptional opportunity for the region’s First Nations people.

He says Port Douglas’ First Nations people will receive unprecedented economic support with the imminent construction of the highly-anticipated Fairmont Port Douglas, with local Indigenous groups pinning high hopes on a positive outcome for the hotel.

The $300 million luxury resort is set to create 694 jobs each year over the two-year construction and will total $203 million in gross value added to the state economy per annum over the same period with 196 ongoing jobs supported on site.

“Of these jobs, I estimate that 10 per cent will go towards the region’s First Nations people, as part of a partnership agreement with the local Indigenous communities.

“The partnership comes after I signed a memorandum of understanding with Kubirriwarra Yalanji Aboriginal Corporation, to ensure the land and its people are treated with care and the site maintains its cultural reverence and acknowledgement, in accordance with local legislation.

“On-going consultation with local Indigenous groups has meant the hotel is well placed to authentically and appropriately celebrate the region’s heritage, with all features from landscaping to artwork being decided in accordance with local culture and people,” said Chiodo in a statement.

Ultimate guest experience

Situated on 71-85 Port Douglas Road between Oaks Hotels and Resorts and the Mirage Country Club, plans for the resort included 253 luxury rooms, several restaurants and bars, a decadent day spa, a treetop walk and panoramic conference and wedding facilities, all designed around resort-style pools.

Chiodo’s vision has been to provide the ultimate guest experience and as an Accor Fairmont it would have met this objective.

According to a report by Urbis – an interdisciplinary consulting firm offering services in planning, design, property, social planning, economics and research – and commissioned by Chiodo, the hotel will garner 128,000 annual visitor nights through tourism to the resort, resulting in an estimated $17.1 million per annum in domestic expenditure to the region and a total estimated annual guest expenditure of $21.3 million (when operational).

Terry O’Shane, of Kubirriwarra Yalanji Aboriginal Corporation, said he is thrilled with the partnership agreement entered into with Chiodo Corporation, which will see the creation and provision of jobs for the region’s First Nations people across construction and within the hotel, as a key part of Chiodo’s reconciliation plan with First Nations people.

“We are extremely pleased with the opportunity to work with one of the world's leading hotel brands, Fairmont, and with Chiodo Corporation in promoting our culture and our history as the world's oldest continuous society

“As a fantastic way to showcase our history and celebrate our heritage, the partnership will help to ensure that Port Douglas and the surrounding region is regarded as the best tourist destination in Australia,” said O’Shane.

More clarity sought

Port Douglas has not seen any significant development in the town since the opening of Juniper Development Group’s Coconut Grove on Macrossan Street in 2008.

Meanwhile, Chiodo Corporation’s development is currently before the planning and environmental court, as the developer hopes council will provide more clarity on the steps needed to move closer to approval.

The Chiodo Corporation team said they are more determined than ever to cooperate with council planners and the Councillors and to be forthcoming with ideas and solutions, to ensure a fruitful relationship and an effective way forward.