There's hope for Brampton Island project yet

New development application shows seven star resort could go ahead

Artist's impressions of the seven star resort on Brampton Island. Picture: Mackay Regional Council

THE unlikely owner of Brampton Island, United Petroleum, still has an interest in developing its seven star resort despite the holiday island sitting dormant for more than seven years now.

The company bought the island for $5.9million with the initial plan to redevelop it by the end of 2011 --- but nothing has happened since.

But just this month the arm of the company responsible for the island, Brampton Enterprises, filed another development application to Mackay Regional Council.

The application was to allow Brampton Enterprises to use the development permit which was due to expire.

A spokeswoman for Brampton Enterprises wouldn't comment on the four-year extension but said she would when the company had something to add.

The original application which was approved on July 8, 2015, was to redevelop the existing resort.

All of the existing guest accommodation would be removed and six new accommodation buildings would be built along the northern boundary.

Some of the most interesting elements to the proposed resort are the rock pools by the beach, yoga platform, golf course and tennis courts and the beach bar.

Here's what you said on what's needed to develop tourism in the region:

Rosemary Shanks Free 72 hour parking in the showground. People will stay and spread the spending across many businesses if they don't have to pay for accommodation.

Lorna Andrews A Big4 on the beachfront. The beach is always an attraction for tourists as well as being closer to the city

Joseph RobertsI keep saying this. Reopen brampton island for business and bring back day cruizes. It was the best thing about mackay years ago and its something we dont have

Lauren Tristram-beyerSpend some money on the beach fronts! Board walks decent facilities and fix the stinger nets! Seaforth, Cape Hillsborough, Ball bay and Halliday bay are magical but the roads are terrible and the beach front areas don't offer a lot.

Rad Bentley Going to have to sway the nomads to come back and stop bypassing Mackay altogether down Mackay-Eungella Rd. The mining boom and arrogance shown to ordinary folk left a bad taste in their mouth right down to Bumper stickers about the place. Now they want them back. Good luck with that.

Trevor Crilley I remember the NOT MACKAY bumper stickers I saw on caravans during the mining boom because there wasn't anywhere for them.

Russel SoperGet them back on the foreshore at Sarina Beach like the old days, all that old caravan park land going to waste down there

Louise Renton The Caravan Park owners need not be afraid of a free camp in Mackay. The grey nomads who pass through (hundreds a day) aren't going to stay in a park anyway. They just keep on driving. And they take their money with them instead of spending it here.

CaroleHenry Re-open Brampton for day trippers, the surf wave pool will be a huge draw card, cafes / bar on the beach, decent bus service, direct flights mky to cairns, something like the big mango for mackay suitable for our region, information kiosks in town, one GOOD brochure instead of 10 to showcase the region....

Mia SmurgBe great to have a big surf/wave pool in Mackay like the one in Darwin! No stingers, sharks or crocs and patronised by locals, out of towners as well as tourists (probably not the grey nomads though lol). Year round surf in Nth Qld!

Betty J EversonI agree Rosemary open up the showgrounds area behind the 500 pavillion. Heaps of room

Turtle Goldsmith Build a big jetty...people love to fish off of big jetties!

Elizabeth AzzopardiAllow pets at council parks like the rest of the state and bring prices down to match the rest of the state

Robyn Jan GeigerPut an toilet pump facility thingy at the Showgrounds and allow a 2 or 3 night stay for Caravaners.

Leo Scott Having a tourist information centre in Mackay. Closing first city heart's now city gates info centre is really going to benefit local businesses

Ruth Wegner The showgrounds used to be the place to go. A bit late I would think to worry about it now the bypass road is under construction.

Originally published as There's hope for Brampton Island project yet