Ok, lets talk about the local non-resort. Lots of people ask me about Mr Palmers resort because we are an architecture firm located close by, but we have no more information than is generally known.
Tradespeople that I know that have done recent work in there say that it is just weird dealing with Clive.
People should be aware of two salient issues …
1) the Hyatt Resort was the biggest single private sector employer on the coast before Mr Palmer shut it down, and we lost an equivalent 700 direct jobs as well as indirect suppliers’ jobs, similar to Townsville. My estimate is that this may have adversely affected up to 3000 families in the region, which is extraordinary given that he was the Federal member of parliament for the region at the time.
2) There are a number of significant examples of Mr Palmer ‘banking or parking’ land holdings throughout the country, and at this stage it is only logical that he would be waiting to see what happens at the Sekisui site before he makes any moves.
In any case he seems to have bigger fish to fry at present.
My understanding is that the resort area is zoned such that it cannot be chopped up, and in any case, it is potentially worth a lot more as an integrated developed land space.
Apart from its gross monetary value, in many respects it had also previously been nurtured as a fantastic community facility.
Pity its shut because it takes years to develop those invaluable links. It’s no wonder that the local community is sceptical of developers in general.
Functionally, it might need a lot of refurbishment, but most of the superstructure will still be intact. Its current layout might be more suited to be re-purposed as an upmarket retirement village or health spa than as a resort, and ironically this is closer to its original built purpose.
