New vehicle Farnborough Beach access proposed from Capricorn Resort land

Fishers could soon have 24-hour access to a popular four-wheel-driving beach after council negotiations which have put the abandoned Capricorn Resort back in the spotlight.

An file photo of Capricorn Resort in it’s heyday. Photo Contributed / The Capricorn Coast Mirror

The owners of the closed-Capricorn Resort have been in talks with Livingstone Shire Council about a new plan which could provide “unlimited access” to Farnborough Beach.

It comes after the council released a draft of The Farnborough Beach Access Masterplan, which proposed a new vehicle and pedestrian access via Sandy Point Road, which is on private land at Capricorn Resort.

The once-popular resort has been closed since 2016 and there had been plans for a $600 million-dollar development but the owners, Iwasaki, withdrew the application in November 2022.

The resort has frontage to a significant portion of Farnborough Beach, which is frequently used by four-wheel drives as it is one of the few beaches with vehicle access in the region.

Concept masterplan for Farnborough Beach by Livingstone Shire Council.

The new masterplan states the proposed vehicle access from the Capricorn Resort land is pending future discussions with the private landowner (Iwasaki).

“The private landowner has been consulted extensively prior to the release of the Farnborough Beach Foreshore Masterplan, and we thank them sincerely for their ongoing support and participation in consulting with the Livingstone Shire community,” a council spokesperson said.

The current Bangalee vehicle access to Farnborough Beach, Yeppoon.

The masterplan has been developed in consultation with the community and Farnborough Beach Reference Group and aims to provide safer, more sustainable long-term options for vehicle access to Farnborough Beach and Corio Bay while preserving and protecting the sand dunes.

Cr Adam Belot at Yeppoon's Capricorn Resort beach access in 2016. Photo Contributed / The Capricorn Coast Mirror

Deputy Mayor Adam Belot said the council had been looking at ways to manage Farnborough Beach for 25-plus years.

“Once upon a time, there were only a handful of four-wheel drives that accessed the northern beaches of our shire – now we have as many as 900 vehicle movements in a day along Farnborough Beach alone,” he said.

A temporary night-time closure (from 8pm to 4am) was conducted in late 2022, monitored by council and police.

The feedback from the closure leaned towards making the closure more permanent.

Yeppoon Police stopping traffic on Farnborough Beach

“Council is now proposing to reintroduce unlimited access to Farnborough for our keen fishing community,” Mr Belot said.

“This will allow unlimited access for those vehicles launching and retrieving boats along Farnborough Beach, day and night.

“It is vital to the ongoing sustainability of the natural environment and the safety of all beach users in the Farnborough Beach and Corio Bay areas that we begin to take steps to ensure the safe ongoing use of the beach for everyone.”

“With our community growing so rapidly, now is the time to find real long-term sustainable solutions.”

An aerial view of Farnborough Beach. Photo: Livingstone Shire Council.

Council will look to secure state and federal government funding for the masterplan.

The masterplan is open for community feedback until January 31 and can be visited here.

SO, WHAT’S HAPPENING WITH CAPRICORN RESORT?

Capricorn Integrated Resort in decades gone by.

While the resort’s control of beach access has put it back in the spotlight, its future still remains uncertain seven years on.

At the time of its closure in August 2016, the resort employed 300 full-time and casual staff and had capacity for 600 guests.

Plans for a 20-year $600 million development including an airstrip, world class five-star eco-retreat and wellness centre, energy farm, caravan park and more had discussed since as early at 2010.

Due to the size of the plans, it required state government approval.

These plans were then scaled back in 2021 and focused on accommodation and refurbishing the existing buildings, adding 1184 rooms and 1526 residential dwellings, along function, retail and food and drink outlets.

Iwasaki received a number of extensions on the original plans, since the final terms were issued in 2014 and were required to submit a complete environmental impact statement.

Photos of the abandoned Capricorn Resort near Yeppoon.

When it came time to do so in November 2022, Iwasaki withdrew the plans.

At the time, council said Iwasaki would now submit a standard development application through council.

It has been 18 months and an application is yet to be submitted.

In a recent statement requested by this publication from council, a spokesperson said it’s town planning team met with Iwasaki personnel in October 2023.

“As of now Iwasaki has not lodged a formal application with council,” they said.

“Consequently, we do not currently have details about their development plans.

“While we await their formal application, the council remains ready to process it promptly once submitted.”

Tsuruya Japanese Restaurant and Capricorn Resort Golf Course continue to operate amid the resort closure.

Originally published as New vehicle Farnborough Beach access proposed from Capricorn Resort land