Queensland officials announced on Tuesday a new site for the multi-million-dollar integrated resort Chinese developer ASF Consortium is to build on the Australian Gold Coast. The luxury hotel and casino property will be located on the Spit, right next to the Sea World theme park.
The developer had previously proposed to build the integrated resort on Wave Break Island. Furthermore, it was planned to feature a cruise ship terminal. However, earlier this year, the Queensland government rejected this initial plan.
Queensland Development Minister Anthony Lynham commented that Gold Coast residents have waited for news for quite some time but the state considered it most important to get things right.
Tim Poole, Local Project Director for ASF Consortium, said that the developer will be targeting international visitors and Chinese high rollers in particular. Mr. Poole also pointed out that they expect to attract more than 100 million Asian tourists over the next 10 years.
Dr. Lynham said on Tuesday that the multi-million-dollar project will not have to be subjected to an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIS) process. However, the integrated casino resort will have to “go through a raft of community consultation.”
The new site for the ASF Consortium development came as a bit of surprise to conservation groups and certainly gained new opponents. It seems they are not particularly keen on the government’s decision to develop the area.
Previously, environmentalists voiced concerns about the potential negative effects a cruise ship terminal might have on Wave Break Island and the Southport Spit. Yet, the state government rejecting ASF Consortium’s initial plan appeased them for a little while only to unleash a new wave of disapproval with its decision to develop the Spit area.
No renderings of the integrated resort were released on Tuesday. Dr. Lynham said that detailed plan of the proposal will be introduced early in 2016. Once ready, it will be brought up for public consultation.
After the Queensland government is submitted the detailed plan, it will be reviewed by the Gold Coast City Council. However, Dr. Lynham pointed out that matters concerning the integrated casino resort will be mainly discussed and taken care of by the state, as the land where the property is to be located is government-owned, and proponents of the project.
Mr. Poole said that the developer is to change its initial concept in a manner that will correspond to community values. Yet, he pointed out that ASF Consortium designers consider some of their former ideas valuable and those will certainly be implemented in the new design. Mr. Poole also noted that “wellness and health of the Gold Coast” will be their starting point.
Queensland officials said on Tuesday that the integrated casino resort is not likely to be completed before the beginning of the Commonwealth Games in April 2018.
Min Yang, Chairwoman of the ASF Consortium, commented on the latest announcement as an “important milestone” for the multi-million-dollar casino development. She said that the integrated resort will be the latest centerpiece in “an internationally recognized brand” as the Gold Coast already is.
