‘More chances than a naughty toddler’: Benny Wu’s Double Island resort also past deadline

Double Island’s dilapidated resort was supposed to be fully refurbished and teeming with tourists this Easter, according to the State Resources department.

Double Island’s dilapidated resort was supposed to be fully refurbished and teeming with tourists this Easter, according to the State Resources department.

The department confirmed March 31 was the deadline not only for day use facilities to be operational, but for the resort itself to be open.

Double Island lessee Benny Wu has failed to meet a March 31 deadline to have day use facilities for the public open and for the resort to be operational. Picture: Supplied

Resources Minister Scott Stewart has indicated Double Island leaseholder Benny Wu could be stripped of the lease he paid $5.68m for 11 years ago.

“I expect action to be taken when it comes to leaseholders meeting their obligations,” Mr

Two audits by Cairns Regional Council in recent years have shown the island to be in sad disrepair and department did an audit in early 2022.

Visitors to Double Island may only walk on the beach, there are no trespassing signs across what was once a luxury resort and there is no evidence public day use facilities are available. Picture: Supplied

A Department of Resources spokeswoman said while Mr Wu’s company had provided a report on March 31, the deal was for day use facilities and the resort to be operating by that date.

Division 9 councillor Brett Olds said he was disappointed the state government hadn’t already acted.

The Department of Resources issued a show cause notice to Double Island leaseholder last year and says it is now considering a report he supplied on March 31. Picture: Supplied

“They have to pull his lease,” Cr Olds said, claiming many conditions have not been met.

He said it was heartening that local State MPs Craig Crawford and Michael Healy were calling time up on Mr Wu’s company.

Multiple audits in recent years have found Double Island lessee Benny Wu is not meeting the conditions of his lease on the island close to Palm Cove that was once an exclusive resort. Picture: Supplied

“Benny’s had more chances than a naughty toddler to get it right, but enough is enough,” Cr Olds said.

“He has failed at every hurdle – pull his lease and watch the expressions of interest flood in.”

Mr Wu was reported as saying in 2020 the state government had reneged on a deal for dollar-for-dollar funding to a cap of $5m and that he unsuccessfully applied to the $25m Great Barrier Reef Island Resort Rejuvenation Program in 2018.

Double Island Resort pool when the facility was operating and attracting A-list celebrities. Picture: Supplied

A government spokesman said although Mr Wu bought the island under Campbell Newman’s LNP government, it was not government procedure to give such funding undertakings, and all funding was contestable.

Palm Cove Tourism boss Tony Richards relied on council’s most recent audit for his submission to the government inquiry into the state of island resorts.

Hong Kong-based investor Benny Wu’s Fortune Island Holding Company has the lease to Double Island, near Palm Cove.

It said the site was in no condition to provide any sort of facility for tourism, general and construction waste was accumulating, there was coastal erosion, the mooring had deteriorated and could not be used and there were no working effluent systems.

The department can give the lessee 28 days notice and then refer the matter to the Land Court, which decides if the lease is forfeited.

Mr Wu has not been contactable – the number for Double Island resort and De Bruey’s winery at Mareeba is the same number and no-one answered the phone at Acacia Court Hotel, which is owned by Mr Wu.

Originally published as ‘More chances than a naughty toddler’: Benny Wu’s Double Island resort also past deadline