Tim Gurner’s stunning $250m Port Douglas development wipes out cheap accommodation, objectors say
Objections to development tycoon Tim Gurner’s lavish $250m luxury resort claimed it would remove desperately-needed affordable accommodation, but Douglas Shire Council says it creates an opportunity for another developer to provide housing for workers.
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Dougie’s Backpacker Resort on Davidson St in Port Douglas will make way for a three storey high end resort with 44 luxury private homes but the lavish $250m project did attract a handful of objectors.
Concerns were raised over the availability of affordable accommodation and the housing shortage, with the backpacker hostel and adjoining caravan park providing affordable accommodation for seasonal workers and long term residents.
Douglas Shire Council agreed the closure of affordable accommodation options was a significant concern.
It responded that it could mot insist the development incorporate worker accommodation and the development was not to a scale that would warrant such a measure.
“For Council to refuse the proposed development due to concerns over the loss of affordable housing would not constitute ... sufficient grounds to defend the refusal if challenged in the Planning and Environment Court,” it stated.
“Land on the periphery of Port Douglas has previously been approved for short term accommodation uses and it is expected that the proposed development could act as a catalyst to encourage investment in bringing these projects forward.”
The development application was lodged last June and following talks with council, the Gurner Group lodged a revised application last September.
Port Douglas architect Gary Hunt, who has been engaged by Tim Gurner for the spectacular project called ‘The Davidson’, said the tourism accommodation industry was evolving with a shift away from conventional hotels to a model with a wider range of accommodation types, including more conventional private homes.
He noted 47 per cent of the Four Seasons inventory was termed residences.
He said the plan was to deliver a product meeting contemporary expectations of high end luxury hotel brands that would resonate with sophisticated travellers.
Owners of the residences could let their homes.
Mr Hunt said the hotel would be in the centre of the site, flanked by private homes on both sides, draped around an internal private driveway.
“The focal point of the luxury hotel is a swimming lagoon at the centre of the ground floor,” Mr Hunt said.
“The luxury hotel is poised to propel Port Douglas back into the heady days when the Sheraton Mirage put the village on the ‘must do list’ of visitors from around the world,” Mr Hunt said.
“The catalytic effect of the Sheraton Hotel cannot be understated – it spawned a raft of new tourism projects in the town and set the upper benchmark.”
He said The Davidson would do the same.
“It will recalibrate the premium tourism product,” Mr Hunt said.
The development was approved unanimously at Douglas Shire Council’s April 30 meeting.
Cr Michael Rees said it was a fantastic project.
“It is evidence for other developers watching that you can design to the town planning scheme, it is a wonderful project,” he said.
Cr Damian Meadows said although it removed high density affordable accommodation, it created an opportunity for another business to step in and fill that void.
Mr Gurner is also building several luxury homes at 71-73 Murphy St.
He initially proposed a $60m resort development at the site overlooking Four Mile Beach but there were strident objections to it.
Veteran developer John Morris has just completed his lavish 15 villa development Escape Villas, which have gone on the market individually as they are completed, fully furnished.
A four bedroom Escape Villa on the market at present has a listed price of $3.850m.
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