Benny Wu’s Double Island Resort: Cairns locals demand action

Cairns residents want tougher action against a millionaire property developer who has allowed Double Island Resort to fall into disrepair. What do you think? VOTE IN OUR POLL

CAIRNS residents want tougher action against a millionaire property developer who has allowed Double Island Resort to fall into disrepair.

Benny Wu bought the property in 2012 for around $8 million. Wu’s Fortune Island Holding Company has the lease until 2099.

The lease was for tourism purposes, yet virtually no one has set foot on the island since the Hong Kong businessman bought it.

The once pristine property off Palm Cove has become a decrepit eyesore.

Queensland Resources Minister Scott Stewart last week confirmed Mr Wu had been hit with a new “please explain”.

Trinity Beach locals Peter Taylor and Simon Osner told the Cairns Post the government should act.

‘I just think the Queensland Government should take it back off the developer and they should just leave for boaties and locals,’’ Mr Taylor said.

Double Island Resort, off the coast of Palm Cove, is still closed and in a state of disrepair, with Chinese owner Benny Wu issued another warning about his lease conditions. Picture: Brendan Radke

Mr Taylor said he did not believe there should be any major development on the island.

He said people came to Cairns for the bush and its natural environment.

“If people want development, go to the Gold Coast or Brisbane.’’

Double Island in its better days.

Mr Osner said the current owner had done ‘nothing’ with the property since purchasing the 99-year lease.

‘My question is what are the terms of the lease to keep the property in good, solid repair?

“If he hasn’t done it, a document needs to be put together to serve on him and he has to either comply or relinquish the lease and get out and let someone else come and do it.’’

Benny Wu is not short of cash.

Concerns about the management of Double Island Resort has long plagued the Chinese businessman. Picture: Marc McCormack

In November 2020, he bought one of the city’s most prestigious homes for a $5 million-plus price tag. He also owns numerous other Cairns properties.

FRESH WARNING ISSUED

The controversial property mogul has been issued a fresh warning over compliance issues at the Double Island Resort.

The once pristine island off Palm Cove has become a decrepit eyesore and frustrates senior government officials and Cairns Regional Council, who have carried out two inspections on the island.

Queensland Resources Minister Scott Stewart confirmed Mr Wu had been hit with a new “please explain” over the condition of the resort.

“The department issued a warning notice to the lease holder requiring them to adhere to the conditions of their lease which include reopening the facilities on the island,” he said.

Mr Stewart said the Double Island Resort was part of a group of islands audited by the department “for compliance with their lease conditions over the past 24 months.”

“I welcome this action,” he told the Cairns Post.

The Double Island Resort was leased to the Hong Kong-based businessman for tourism purposes, yet virtually no one has set foot on the island since he bought it in 2012 for around $8m.

Benny Wu (left) pictured on Double Island with Double Island with Davey Tam (right) after they purchased the former pristine island off the coast of Palm Cove in 2012.

Maintenance of vegetation, improvements to be kept in good repair and mooring facilities for the general public at the island were all conditions on the lease.

Assistant Tourism Minister and Cairns MP, Michael Healy, said the lease conditions for Mr Wu “were fair and reasonable” and Far North residents were losing out.

“As part of the lease conditions the leaseholder of Double Island Resort was to work on reopening the facilities on the island, which included a staged remediation of public day use facilities and for the operation of a tourism resort,” he said.

“This is a fair and reasonable expectation from the people of Cairns, not to mention the legal requirements, and they need to be met.”

Chinese developer Benny Wu.

Two council inspections in 2017 and 2019 found major deterioration of the island, with the resort in a general state of abandonment.

The contact number on the Double Island Resort’s website diverts to the De Brueys Boutique Wines at Mareeba.

Mr Wu bought the winery back in 2016, adding to his other Cairns investments including the Acacia Court Hotel.

Cairns Division 9 councillor Brett Olds said it was time something was done.

“We really need to get that Double Island lease rectified and get someone there that will actually make it a positive for Palm Cove,” he said.

“The current lease holder has done nothing for years and it’s a drag on the community up here.”

Tourism Tropical North Queensland chief executive Mark Olsen said he wanted to see Double Island return with a redevelopment that would lead the nation in responsible travel.

A spokeswoman for Mr Wu said the resort was “doing some improvement according to (the) related department’s advice” but it would remain closed to the public.

“Due to the impact of the pandemic, the improvement plan has encountered many obstacles that cause delay, shortage of manpower and the supply of goods,” the spokeswoman, from the Double Island head office, said.

“At this stage, we are aiming to complete the improvement plan then make a further plan according to the market at that time.”

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Originally published as Benny Wu’s Double Island Resort: Cairns locals demand action