A $1.4 billion tourism and residential project is set to go ahead in far north Queensland, in what the Newman government describes as the state's biggest ever tourism development.
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Premier Campbell Newman announced the Coordinator General had given state approval to the proposal for Ella Bay near Innisfail.
The proposal will now be sent to Federal Environment Minister Tony Burke for consideration.
The government says the project includes three resort precincts, four residential precincts, a retail village, an 18-hole golf course and a cassowary research and education centre on the site of a 450-hectare cattle property.
"This is all about jobs and investment for the long term," Mr Newman said.
"This is a proposal that has been around for some seven years."
Deputy Premier Jeff Seeney said 38 conditions had been set and he was satisfied environmental concerns had been addressed.
It requires federal approval to proceed.
Mr Seeney said Mr Burke would have 30 days to assess the project from a federal point of view.
Mr Newman said he was confident the tourist resort would be a success given it was only 90 minutes from Cairns International Airport.
The developer is Satori.
Satori’s proposal is adjacent to the Wet Tropics Queensland World Heritage Area and close to the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area.
Mr Seeney said the Coordinator General had imposed conditions to reduce impacts on water quality.
More to come...