Qld govt reclaims Double Island after stripping Benny Wu’s lease

Double Island is officially back in state hands following an unprecedented move that will pave the way for the Far North Queensland jewel to reopen and become a tourism asset once again.

Double Island is officially back in state hands following an unprecedented move that will pave the way for the Far North Queensland jewel to reopen and become a tourism asset once again.

Resources Minister Scott Stewart on Friday revealed he took an unprecedented move to revoke an island lease and stripped Hong Kong businessman Benny Wu’s hold over the island.

It comes several weeks after the Land Court ruled Fortune Island Holdings’ lease could be revoked as its conditions, particularly to operate a major tourist facility or resort on the island, had been breached.

Barron River MP Craig Crawford said the company did not lodge an appeal against the ruling before the six-week window to do so expired on Tuesday.

“That meant the minister then had the authority to execute what he needed to do and he’s done that overnight,” he said.

Double Island has been reclaimed by the Queensland government, after it successfully stripped Hong Kong billionaire Benny Wu’s lease. Picture: Brendan Radke

“It is now back in the hands of Queenslanders. This is the day we’ve all been waiting for after six long years.

“This is bloody brilliant. Bye bye Benny.”

The state government’s reclaim over Double Island marked a significant win for the Far North community and tourism industry more broadly, Mr Crawford said.

“They’ve been watching a significant asset just sitting there going to rack and ruin, being wasted,” he said.

“The consensus seems to be most people want to see some sort of economic or tourist activity occur out there, but we’re not going to go down the same path as what we went before.

“I’d like to see something that resembles Green Island or Fitzroy Island where there’s a combination of day use as well as maybe an overnight stay product and a few other bits and pieces.

“And I’d like that to be done by an Australian-based company, not an overseas one.”

Barron River MP Craig Crawford. Picture: Brendan Radke

Mr Crawford said he expected expressions of interest for new operators to take on the next lease to open in the coming months.

“I would like to think by the end of the calendar year there’s a shortlist of people who are putting together their ideas and plans,” he said.

“I wouldn’t expect that we would have an operator appointed by the end of the year … it’s potentially a six to 12 month process for that, we just want to make sure we get it right.”

In the meantime the island, just 1.5km from the Palm Cove shore, is open to the public and can be accessed via private boats, tinnies and kayaks.

“There’s nothing at all that stops people from heading out there and you can pull a tinny up on the beach and have a look around … but we’re asking people to be cautious,” Mr Crawford said.

Double Island Resort has been left in a state of disrepair several years. Picture: Marc McCormack

“There’s an old swimming pool out there, there could be chemicals, there could be structural collapse, we just don’t know.

“I would imagine the (environment) department would be out there within days or the next week and some areas will probably have to be roped off … there’s potentially a big clean-up out there, we have no idea how big or small.”

Tourism Minister and Cairns MP Michael Healy said he wanted to see the island “restored to its former glory”.

“Queensland’s island resorts are the jewels in the crown of our state’s tourism industry,” he said.

“We think it is only fair to expect resort operators to comply with their lease.”

Double Island had been held by Fortune Island Holdings Company since 2013 on a $5.68m lease but had not been operated for more than six years.

Originally published as Qld govt reclaims Double Island after stripping Benny Wu’s lease