The Department of State Development and Infrastructure is changing to the Department of State Development, Infrastructure and Planning. Work is underway to update this website. Read more about the new Ministerial portfolios. For Planning-related matters, please visit planning.qld.gov.au

Aquis Resort at the Great Barrier Reef Project

Project overview*

EIS statusApproved with conditions
Description Redevelopment of 343 ha of rural land into a large-scale integrated tourism resort.
Proponent Aquis Resort at the Great Barrier Reef Pty Ltd
Location/s 13 km north of Cairns and 3 km south of Yorkeys Knob. Map
Local government/s Cairns Regional Council
Investment $8.15 billion over 2 stages:
  • Stage 1 $5.05 billion
  • Stage 2 $3.1 billion
Key features Stage 1 includes:
  • An artificial lake and island within the development site
  • A casino
  • 5 hotels including 4000 rooms
  • Additional facilities including: retail shopping; an aquarium; a theatre; a reef lagoon; an outdoor sport and recreation facility including an 18-hole golf course; a convention and exhibition centre; and a cultural heritage centre
Stage 2 includes:
  • 3 additional hotels including 3500 rooms
  • A second casino
  • Additional facilities including: an additional theatre; retail shopping; and a rainforest
Jobs Stage 1:
  • 3750 (construction)
  • 11,000 (operational)
Stage 2:
  • 3500 (construction)
  • An additional 9000 (operational)

* Project information supplied by proponent and subject to change.

Environmental impact statement (EIS) process

DateActivity
30 April 2015 Commonwealth Minister for the Environment's approval of controlled action, subject to conditions. More information
17 December 2014 Coordinator-General’s Report on final EIS (PDF icon 22 MB) released
15 October 2014 to
12 November 2014 		Additional information to the EIS being assessed by relevant government agencies.
16 September 2014 Additional information to EIS requested by Coordinator-General.
21 June 2014 to
5 August 2014 		EIS public consultation:
21 May 2014 Released amended Final Terms of Reference (PDF icon 150 KB) to require assessment of Commonwealth and State matters.
5 May 2014 Project deemed a 'controlled action' by Commonwealth Government requiring assessment under an accredited assessment process.
1 April 2014 Project referred to Commonwealth Minister for the Environment.
2 October 2013 Terms of reference (PDF icon 229 KB) released.
12 August 2013 to
9 September 2013 		Draft terms of reference for EIS public consultation.
1 August 2013 Gazettal of 'coordinated project' declaration (PDF icon 80 KB)
26 July 2013 Application, including initial advice statement (PDF icon 2.6 MB), submitted.

Read more about the EIS process.

Last updated: 16 Mar 2023