Stone Island Whitsundays: Cable-car, villas planned in $10m resort revamp
A new cable-car attraction is among plans for an iconic tourist hotspot, with the multimillion-dollar works set to bring a jobs and tourism boom to the region.
Whitsunday
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A new cable car attraction is on the cards for the Whitsundays with plans to build an aerial tramway from the mainland to an island resort.
Cardiff Law wrote to Whitsunday Regional Council on behalf of Stone Island lessee Stone Island Holdings to ask for its support to partially-close Margaret Reynolds Dr, near Flagstaff Hill Conference Centre, to build a tramway drive station.
The proposed drive station in Bowen would service a 2km aerial tramway connecting to Stone Island, with an extra support tower to be built on the in-between North Head Island.
Documents lodged to the council state the aerial tramway would “facilitate rapid movement of guests” and “distinguish” Stone Island from the 73 other Whitsunday region islands that were “generally only accessible by boat or air”.
“The ultimate development will result in a world-class experience, which will not only lift the marketability of the island but also reposition and revitalise Bowen as a vibrant tourist destination,” documents state.
Cardiff’s letter states SIH required the council’s support to lodge a development application with the Department of Resources for a Material Change of Use.
If approved, the cable car project would unlock a new travel option for tourists hoping to stay at one of the 18 new detached resort villas proposed as an extension to the Stone Island Resort.
SIH applied to WRC earlier this year to build the short-term accommodation, but council documents state the developer will need to provide further information on items such as sewerage, water and solar battery storage, electricity, and parking before plans can be properly considered.
The villas would be located south of the existing resort and look west to Bowen.
The proposal also includes a provision for a new food and drink outlet on the north end of the island and renovations of the existing resort including 3-star accommodation, a beach club, restaurant and bars.
There is also plans for an “expanded maritime hub around existing jetty and boat ramp” on the southeast peninsula.
Documents state villa guests will have access to recreation activities like snorkelling and diving as well as hiking trails to the “navigation beacon at Sinclair Head”, with Stone Island one of the first in the Whitsundays operating as a resort back in the 1970s.
“It was a modest resort with an emphasis on families, adventure and entertainment,” documents state.
Cyclone Debbie battered the resort in 2017 with “extensive repairs” being carried out over the past few years.
The development is expected to cost about $10 million and will generate about 25 jobs once operational.
Cardiff’s letter states SIH had always envisaged “a close working relationship” between the Flagstaff Hill Conference Centre and the aerial tramway project, and SIH is prepared to pay for remedial works on the drive and car park to ensure the area can cater for “future demand”.
“SIH would also be interested to work with (WRC) to improve pedestrian and cycle connections to Flagstaff Hill from the Bowen foreshore,” the letter states.
Councillors on Wednesday voted for the council to write a request to SIH.
The council will request SIH provide a draft development application for the aerial tramway with further information to enable the council to consider supporting its request for a partial-permanent road closure of Margaret Reynolds Dr.
Originally published as Stone Island Whitsundays: Cable-car, villas planned in $10m resort revamp
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