East Trinity indigenous tourism approved despite residential expansion dream

A VISIONARY plan to forge an indigenous tourism venture at East Trinity with towers, zip lines and overnight accommodation has gained Cairns Regional Council approval.

• East Trinity Aboriginal tourism project moves ahead
• East Trinity tourism development ‘grounded and realistic’
• Rudder lines up for East Trinity eco-cultural tourism project

A VISIONARY plan to forge an indigenous tourism venture at East Trinity with towers, zip lines and overnight accommodation has gained Cairns Regional Council approval.

The Mandingalbay Yidinji Corporation’s $39 million Eco Structure development received the go-ahead yesterday despite the council’s long-held desire for residential expansion into East Trinity.

Division 1 councillor Brett Moller said construction was expected to create 360 jobs with more than 150 ongoing positions once operational – a win for Yarrabah which had a 75 per cent unemployment rate.

He said any significant population shift across Trinity Inlet remained too distant a prospect to reject the project.

“You would need to establish an overwhelming need, which based on our current growth patterns … is probably unlikely,” Cr Moller said.

“I don’t think this project should be held back because of those challenges in terms of future development,” he said.

The chief elements of the project are three 33m-tall towers along a 1.1km boardwalk, all connected with flying fox cables.

Originally published as East Trinity indigenous tourism approved despite residential expansion dream