Bubbling Springs Spicers Hidden Vale: New tourism and camping facility and extended bike, running trails approved by Ipswich council

The Queensland power couple behind Flight Centre and the Spicers brands have been given the seal of approval for a planned country retreat featuring camping facilities, mountain bike trails, a cafe and restaurant west of Brisbane. SEE THE PLANS

Plans for the ‘Bubbling Springs’ tourism development on land near Spicers Hidden Vale resort in Grandchester have been approved by Ipswich City Council. Spicers owners Jude and Graham 'Skroo' Turner.

Grand plans by one of Australia’s richest couples to establish an expanded “eco-tourism destination” at their historic country retreat on the outskirts of Ipswich to include a new camping site and expanded mountain bike and running trails have been approved after four years of waiting.

Boutique hotel chain Spicers Retreats is run by Jude Turner, wife of owner and Flight Centre boss Graham “Skroo” Turner.

A development application first submitted to Ipswich City Council in 2017 for a new tourist facility over 1616 hectares near the Spicers Hidden Vale resort in Grandchester has been given the approval, subject to certain conditions being met.

Approved plans for the Bubbling Springs tourism facility near the Spicers Hidden Vale resort in Grandchester.

The proposal covers 25 properties in Grandchester and Mount Mort and it would be accessed by Doonans Road.

The council has given its approval for the development labelled as Bubbling Springs.

The application stated it will include “grass tent sites, semi-permanent glamping structures and communal use eco facilities” for up to 290 people.

The development will provide facilities to the Hidden Vale Adventure Park, which is primarily used for mountain biking and trail running.

“The desire is to provide a semi-remote Australian bush engagement within a range of accommodation types catering for varying age groups and outdoor experiences,” it noted.

“The landscape design intent is based on sustainable principles of minimising and mitigating landscape intrusion while maximising and preserving the natural, educational and cultural values of the environment.

“The simple landscape character will provide the interlink between the two precincts and therefore a seamless and unobtrusive connection with the existing landscape.”

Jude and Graham ‘Skroo’ Turner.

A memorandum from the council stated the applicant now intends to complete the development over stages “in response to the impacts on tourism related to the evolving Covid-19 pandemic” with a minor change to the application submitted in March.

“The proposed staging would allow the development to be delivered across a number of stages in response to prevailing market conditions,” it noted.

The first stage will include extending the existing 130 kilometres of trails by 20 kilometres.

“The track traverses all sites the subject of this application including access to the approved trail head at the Spicers Hidden Vale Resort,” the report noted.

The second stage of development includes a camping and caravan park, which will provide overnight stays for up to 290 people.

“Specifically, a total of 60 single campsites, three group sites accommodating eight individual tents per site, seven caravan sites (serviced with water and power) and eight permanent ‘eco tents’ are proposed,” the report noted.

The camping site will be supported by five barbecue pavilions, four amenities blocks and two camp kitchens.

A temporary ‘camp kiosk’ will be built until the project’s main facility is built as part of stage three.

Approved plans for the facility.

This third stage is planned to include a cafe and restaurant, public function area, bike shed, first aid room and shop.

“The main building provides support services for the day-use area and temporary accommodation,” the report stated.

“The main building includes the cafe/restaurant with access to the public function area, ultimate camp reception and associated kiosk shop as well as first aid room, amenities, bike shed and bike wash down area.

“The cafe/restaurant area incorporates both indoor and outdoor dining as well as a coffee/bakery area to provide additional seating as well as flexibility to provide different food options/function catering as the use matures.

“The public event space is linked with the cafe/restaurant use and will allow for events to be held within and in the general surrounds.

“The ancillary shop will provide access to essentials such as milk and bread as well as spare parts for bikes and camping.”

Amplified and live music will only be permitted between 7am and 10pm within the main building.

“This will allow the facility to host events such as parties, weddings and the like while ensuring the rural amenity of the locality and particularly for existing residents located further down the valley to the north,” the report noted.

An existing four-bedroom house on the property which will be about 240 metres from the site’s carparking area will be repurposed into a caretaker’s residence.

Spicers Retreats founder Jude Turner.

The council raised issues with potential flooding, the development’s bushfire management plan, the impact on fauna and flora, the noise impacts on surrounding properties and the traffic impacts on the unsealed Doonan Road.

Conditions have been imposed.

“To mitigate dust impacts on the existing residents it is proposed to seal sections of Doonans Road adjacent to the dwellings,” the report noted.

“It should be noted that the applicant’s traffic engineer recommended including a posted speed limit for Doonans Road to improve safety.

“Council does not support this proposal.”

The total infrastructure charges from the council for the application is $304,500.

Approval for 10 tent sites and associated dining and bathroom facilities on the land was granted in 2009.

A total of 420 guests will be allowed on site, including the existing resort, at any one time.

Read more stories by Lachlan McIvor here.