Tower Holdings final resort plans | Rockhampton News | Local News in Rockhampton

LAST CHANCE: It is expected Tower Holdings will sell the derelict resort if its third plan is rejected.

JAMES SHRIMPTON

TOWER HOLDINGS hinted yesterday that it would abandon Great Keppel Island if its “third and final plan” for a tourism resort is rejected.

The Sydney-based developer, which has invested millions of dollars in previous plans and charm-offensives to win support for a job-spinning holiday complex on the island, has enlisted the aid of one of the world’s leading environmental management companies, EC3 Global.

It has also vowed to win over its fiercest critics to help it convince Environment Minister Peter Garrett that large scale tourism will not harm the island or the Great Barrier Reef.

Mr Garrett scuppered the second, scaled down proposals last year on the grounds the reef would be harmed.

“We have listened. We will deliver on recommendations,” said Tower’s chief executive Terry Agnew yesterday.

“We are seeking to forge strong relationships through productive discussions with all interest groups, including the Capricorn Conservation Council, in developing the third and final plan.

“The very proactive and passionate feedback we have received to date from the community at large, is that people do want to see redevelopment take place in keeping with the region’s unique environment.”

The company won’t be revealing details of its proposals to the public for some time.

It says it wants to work through every recommendation from Mr Garrett’s office and discuss issues with what it calls regional stakeholders before drafting the plan it believes will create thousands of construction and tourism jobs.

Mr Agnew said Tower Holdings was committed to delivering an environmentally sound plan.

“This is taking time to ensure it complies with the important recommendations of Mr Garrett.”

The company has engaged a large team of sustainability and environmental experts to guide its thinking. These include Rockhampton-based Patrice Brown, the director of CQ Environmental; Mark Olsen, regional director of Tourism Queensland and EC3 Global which has more than 1000 clients in more than 60 countries.

“The business community and local residents want something to happen. However we have a responsibility to not just look after the island’s environment, but improve it.

“I would like to personally thank the community members who have commented for and against the previous plans as they are helping us in the process to develop a world class eco-tourism resort that we can all be proud of,” said Mr Agnew.

Asked if use of the term “third and final plan” meant Tower would not pursue its interests in GKI if the plan was rejected, a spokesman for the company agreed.

“This is the last attempt,” he said.