Land director Dan Cuda speaks on Hervey Bay’s Sheraton Hotel
The developer behind an 18-storey Hervey Bay high-rise says plans to build the world-class resort have not changed despite an appeal against its controversial council approval crawling through the Planning and Environment Court.
Regional News
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The developer behind the biggest resort of its kind north of Brisbane remains determined to build Sheraton towers in Hervey Bay despite delays caused by a slow-moving appeal in the Planning and Environment Court.
The planned Sheraton resort, which includes a six-level hotel and 12 storeys of residential apartments, solidified its place on Hervey Bay’s Esplanade at Torquay after it won a slim 6-5 council vote on July 24, 2024.
It will feature a mix of residential, resort, retail and luxury entertainment options, including 340 private apartments in addition to more than 200 hotel rooms, a business lounge, fitness centre, international standard, 400-seat function and conference space and a destination rooftop bar overlooking the Bay.
However, the existing derelict buildings remain untouched at the 408-412 the Esplanade site and the project is in limbo after the Wildlife Preservation Association Queensland asked the Planning and Environment Court to overturn Fraser Coast Regional Council’s approval of the $450million development in September, 2024.
Sunny Beach Land Director Dan Cuda told this publication plans “have not changed to deliver a world-class, five-star resort and apartments project for Hervey Bay that were approved by the Fraser Coast Regional Council”.
“This approval followed an extensive and wide-ranging process that included hundreds of pages of expert reports and analysis, and thousands of submissions from community members in support of the project,” he said.
“It remains clear that the majority of Fraser Coast councillors, council planners, business owners and the wider community support this project and the major economic, employment and social benefits it will bring to the Fraser Coast region.”
The WPAQ believe the building’s height would ruin the region’s skyline and harm native wildlife.
The Wildlife group stated in its appeal the project was located in a “dark sky” area identified in the regional plan designed to “reduce impacts from artificial lighting on sea turtle and shore bird populations”.
They also argue state mapping shows nesting turtles “present” on the beach directly in front of the hotel’s planned location.
The subject has been in the headlines in the Bundaberg region recently where wildlife groups raised concerns about the loggerhead turtle hatchlings walking onto the road and into oncoming traffic due to bright streetlights.
Asked whether construction was expected to begin this year, Mr Cuda said, “we are rigorously defending our approval in this action but cannot comment further at present”.
The resort’s construction and operation is expected to create 1350 new jobs in the region.
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