Flame Tree Eco Stays luxury development approved for Pioneer Valley

The developer of a luxury tiny home nestled near Australia’s biggest subtropical rainforest has revealed their feelings after the council re-considered the project.

Those looking for a getaway to a luxury agritourism cabin will soon find one minutes from Australia’s longest continual subtropical rainforest.

Flame Tree Eco Stays has been in the works for over a year, yet developers Ellen and Peter Everett had to rejig their plans after the announcement of the Pioneer-Burdekin Pumped Hydro dam.

Despite having to redesign their boutique cabins to be transportable if or when the hydro project floods their property, their recent re-approval by Mackay Regional Council has left them “feeling good and positive”.

Original plans including two king bedrooms each with en suites, approved on May 17, 2022, were soon thrown into the air when the hydro project was revealed in September.

The Everetts resubmitted in December with a new tiny house design, requesting previous road works conditions be deleted.

They argued the pumped hydro reservoir potentially flooding these improvements in the future was “nothing that we can control” and therefore should not be required.

The proposal for Flame Tree Eco Stays in the Pioneer Valley was approved by Mackay Regional Council on January 25, 2023. Photo: Contributed.

“We’re obviously not in favour of the dam per se … but we’re being realistic”, Ms Everett said

“We’re just going to be more flexible with what we’re building.

“Just very excited that it’s actually going again.”

She said they were “hesitant on how far to go” with the dam casting its shadow on their plans, but the development of two cabins was always intended to be a two stage project.

Flame Tree Eco Stays has changed its accommodation plan to gain council approval. Photo: Contributed

Their new plans, which now have more of a tiny house design, are scaled down for transportability but retain many of the original outdoor attractions – even adding another in the form of an outdoor bathtub.

Flame Tree plans to build mountain biking trails for the exclusive use of its guests, leading the charge as approval for a major council-backed trailhead development was approved on January 25.

Its luxury eco features remain too, such as an outdoor pizza oven and a locally-sourced welcome basket from Valley producers and the Everett’s own farm.

An artist’s view of the new Flame Tree Eco Stays project. Photo: Contributed

“It’s going to be quite bespoke,” Ms Everett said.

“Farm-fresh honey from our bees, eggs from our chickens, fruit from our large orchard.”

She said some of the local retailers already interested included Michelle Camilleri’s One Hungry Mumma, John Cunningham’s Lipsy Sauces and Eloise and Terry Crotha’s Eungella Garlic.

The Everetts said if the weather was kind and they got all the needed materials we need, they hoped to open to visitors by winter of 2023.