Port Douglas development: Douglas Shire Council rejects $300m Fairmont resort proposal

A $300m development has been rejected by a Far North council, with the company behind the project labelling the administration “completely disconnected” from its own community.

DOUGLAS Shire Council has formally rejected a development application for a $300m Fairmont resort in Port Douglas, with the company behind the project labelling the administration “completely disconnected” from its own community.

Mayor Michael Kerr and councillors were unanimous in their refusal to approve a new five star resort on Port Douglas Road; tipped to pump more than $203m into the Queensland economy per annum and create almost 700 jobs during its construction.

Planning staff outlined more than 18 grounds where the Chiodo Corp application failed to meet the planning requirement at an ordinary council meeting on Tuesday, citing traffic impact, inadequate setbacks, bulk and size and overall character of the 253-room complex as the major flaws.

Douglas Shire planning officer Daniel Lamond said parking issues were also predicted under the current DA.

“The proposal includes a 45 per cent carparking short fall in supply on site,” he told councillors.

“So we would expect quite a lot of informal parking to spill out across the road verge on Port Douglas Road in front of other premises.

“You also might expect amenity and character issues when you come into Port Douglas and you don’t see any (other) development of this scale.

“Other larger scale developments have good setbacks, landscaping within the sites, that create that sort of character, and then this one would be quite out of character.”

Chiodo Corp director Paul Chiodo said his legal team would lodge a submission to the planning and environment court “within days”.

He said the “vast majority” of Port Douglas stakeholders wanted the landmark development green lit.

“Michael Kerr made a comment in relation to reading Facebook messages and posts, and if he actually took the time to read all of them he would see the significant majority of the community want this project to move forward,” he said.

“Michael and the other councillors just proved today they are completely disconnected with the wants of the community.

“We love Port Douglas, we love the town, we thinks this project is going to be an economic benefit for all stakeholders.

“We will fight for the community, we are connected with them, and we will lodge this.”

Mr Chiodo referenced the Sheraton Grand Mirage, Coconut Grove, Peppers Beach Club and Pullman Sea Temple resorts as all having different design elements.

“Ours is on a site that already has a 250-room DA approved, it’s not on Macrossan Street, we are just designing something much better,” he said.

“We are disappointed and surprised at the reasoning of the councillors and officers refusing this.”

Cr Kerr said he was reluctant to knock back the DA, saying the Fairmont proposal was “a dream development” for an incoming Mayor.

But having been instructed by planning staff that the design “sits so far out of the approved planing scheme” he had to refuse the development.

“It is with great regret that I must agree with the planners on this occasion, and unfortunately with the recommendation of refusing this application myself,” he said.

In rejecting the DA, Mr Kerr, and Cr Lisa Scomazzon and Cr Peter McKeown said they hoped Chiodo would work with council to adress some of the issues with the submission.

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Originally published as Port Douglas development: Douglas Shire Council rejects $300m Fairmont resort proposal