Great Keppel Island Resort project Coordinator-General’s report on the environmental impact statement March 2013 © State of Queensland. Published by Queensland Government, March 2013, 63 George Street, Brisbane Qld 4000. The Queensland Government supports and encourages the dissemination and exchange of information. However, copyright protects this publication. The State of Queensland has no objection to this material being reproduced, made available online or electronically but only if it is recognised as the owner of the copyright and this material remains unaltered. Copyright inquiries about this publication should be directed to [email protected] or in writing to: Administrator (Crown Copyright and Other IP), Department of State Development, Infrastructure and Planning, PO Box 15517, City East, Qld 4002. The Queensland Government is committed to providing accessible services to Queenslanders of all cultural and linguistic backgrounds. If you have difficulty understanding this publication and need a translator, please call the Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS National) on 131 450 and ask them to telephone the Queensland Department of State Development, Infrastructure and Planning on 132 523. Disclaimer: This report contains factual data, analysis, opinion and references to legislation. The Coordinator-General and the State of Queensland make no representations and give no warranties regarding the accuracy, completeness or suitability for any particular purpose of such data, analysis, opinion or references. You should make your own enquiries and take appropriate advice on such matters. Neither the Coordinator-General nor the State of Queensland will be responsible for any loss or damage (including consequential loss) you may suffer from using or relying upon the content of this report. By using or relying on such information you agree to indemnify the Coordinator-General and the State of Queensland against any loss arising out of or in relation to your use or reliance. Contents Synopsis........................................................................................................vii 1. Introduction ............................................................................................ 1 2. About the project.................................................................................... 2 2.1. The proponent..........................................................................................2 2.2. Project description....................................................................................2 2.2.1. Location......................................................................................2 2.2.2. Project components....................................................................3 2.2.3. Development stages...................................................................4 2.3. Project rationale .......................................................................................5 2.3.1. Economic ...................................................................................6 2.3.2. Tourism ......................................................................................7 2.3.3. Environmental benefits...............................................................8 3. Impact assessment process .................................................................. 9 3.1. Overview ..................................................................................................9 3.2. Coordinated project declaration .............................................................10 3.3. Controlled action ....................................................................................10 3.4. Terms of reference.................................................................................11 3.5. Review of the EIS...................................................................................11 3.6. Supplementary information ....................................................................12 4. Project approvals ................................................................................. 13 4.1. Local government approvals ..................................................................13 4.2. State government approvals ..................................................................13 4.3. Australian Government approvals..........................................................14 5. Land use .............................................................................................. 15 5.1. Context...................................................................................................15 5.1.1. Former resort............................................................................15 5.1.2. Existing land uses ....................................................................15 5.1.3. Access to the island .................................................................15 5.1.4. Current tenure and ownership..................................................15 5.2. Proposed redevelopment and expansion...............................................16 5.2.2. Fishermans Beach Precinct .....................................................18 5.2.3. Clam Bay and Environmental Protection precincts ..................19 5.2.4. Marine Services Precinct..........................................................20 5.2.5. Proposed accommodation........................................................21 5.2.6. Proposed tenure and ownership ..............................................21 5.3. Proposed development plan ..................................................................21 5.3.1. Draft development plan ............................................................21 5.3.2. Staging .....................................................................................23 5.4. Relevant state and local government planning ......................................23 5.4.1. Livingstone Shire Council Planning Scheme............................23 5.4.2. Regional plan ...........................................................................24 5.4.3. State planning policies .............................................................24 5.4.4. Coastal planning ......................................................................25 5.5. Location specific requirements...............................................................25 Great Keppel Island Resort project Coordinator-General’s report on the environmental impact statement - iii - 5.5.1. Visual impacts ..........................................................................25 5.5.2. Natural hazards........................................................................27 5.5.3. Tenure and ownership .............................................................27 5.6. Social impacts ........................................................................................28 5.7. Heritage conservation ............................................................................29 5.7.1. Queensland Heritage Place—Leekes Homestead...................29 5.7.2. Aboriginal Cultural Heritage .....................................................29 5.8. Coordinator-General’s conclusions ........................................................29 6. Infrastructure and services................................................................... 31 6.1. Existing infrastructure and services .......................................................31 6.1.1. Water supply ............................................................................31 6.1.2. Services ...................................................................................31 6.1.3. Internal roads and tracks..........................................................32 6.1.4. Airstrip ......................................................................................32 6.2. Construction infrastructure and services................................................32 6.2.1. Construction water supply........................................................32 6.2.2. Services ...................................................................................33 6.2.3. Construction waste management.............................................33 6.2.4. Keppel Bay staging area ..........................................................33 6.3. Proposed infrastructure and services.....................................................34 6.3.1. Utilities services corridor ..........................................................34 6.3.2. Internal roads and tracks..........................................................34 6.3.3. Airstrip ......................................................................................35 6.3.4. Wastewater treatment infrastructure ........................................35 6.3.5. Waste management services...................................................35 6.3.6. Water supply ............................................................................36 6.3.7. Operations power supply .........................................................36 6.4. Coordinator-General’s conclusions ........................................................37 7. Traffic and transport............................................................................. 38 7.1. Existing transport infrastructure .............................................................38 7.1.1. Roads.......................................................................................38 7.1.2. Shipping/waterborne ................................................................38