Double Island ruling paves way for Palm Cove marina, harbour project

A new era for Double Island could also pave the way for a new harbour and swimming lagoon on the Palm Cove shoreline, a local businessman says.

Millionaire Hong Kong businessman Benny Wu has owned Double Island Resort, off the coast of Palm Cove in Far North Queensland, since 2012. He has allowed the facilities to fall into a state of neglect and disrepair, in breach of his lease conditions set out by the Queensland Government. Picture: Brendan Radke

A new era for Double Island could also pave the way for a major development on the Palm Cove shoreline, a local businessman says, with a new harbour and swimming lagoon slated to transform the seaside suburb.

Resources Minister Scott Stewart is expected to revoke Hong Kong billionaire Benny Wu’s hold over the tropical island after the Land Court ruled earlier this month his company’s $5.68m, lease could be forfeited.

It means the Far North Queensland island resort could be restored to its former glory under a new leaseholder after years of neglect and ruin.

Palm Cove businessman Tony Richards is leading efforts to construct Palm Cove Harbour around the existing jetty at the northern end of the beach. Picture: Brendan Radke.

Tony Richards, a local business owner and a developer of the Fitzroy Island Resort, said the move should give confidence to the government and private investors to jump on a long-running idea to build a boat harbour at Palm Cove.

He along with other proponents floated the proposal about a decade ago, which has now re-emerged alongside interest in the island’s next lease.

A protected harbour to allow safe boat access from the mainland was essential for both redevelopment works on the island and visitor access into the future, Mr Richards said.

“Until we’ve got a safe harbour, the Palm Cove jetty is basically redundant. You can’t rely on it for safe access to the reef or islands or anything else,” he said.

An artist's impression of the Palm Cove Safe Boat Harbour project. Picture: Hunt Design

“With the prevailing wind on the south-southeast of the beach there it’s impossible for dozens of days a year, hundreds of days a year, to access the jetty (via boat).

“Nothing can really happen on the island until we sort the whole thing out.”

Cruise ships could also berth at Double Island with passengers ferried over “calm water” into the new mainland harbour, Mr Richards said.

It comes as the state government works on a feasibility study on upgrades to the Palm Cove jetty, which is due mid this year.

Mr Richards said the project could be a jointly-funded development with government bankrolling the harbour and private investors contributing to other assets, such as a swimming lagoon.

The current Palm Cove jetty has limited purposes aside from fishing and foot access, Mr Richards says. Picture: Brendan Radke

“They’re fully aware of what we’re doing and how we’ve done it, and the initial engineering work was done,” he said.

“We’ve scoped the practicality (of the lagoon) and it would have cost benefit. The number of cancellations because of non-swim days and non-access to the beach is significant.”

Mr Richards said the Land Court ruling over Double Island marked the first step towards a full realisation of Palm Cove’s tourism potential.

“It allows all the other things to expand and to develop the area,” he said.

“Until we had sorted out the problem with the lease, neglect at the island, everything else was put on hold.

“Palm Cove is still the gem along the northern beaches and it has direct access to international airports in a short space of time.

“It’s got everything going for it.”

Originally published as Double Island ruling paves way for Palm Cove marina, harbour project