s n r i a C
Local News
MAY 03, 2024
100% LOCALLY OWNED & INDEPENDENT
COV E R I N G M O S S M A N TO T H E C A S S OWA RY COAS T
cairnslocalnews.com.au
l News
l Time Out
l Sport
Salvos launch Ruby Ball fundraiser
Missy Higgins returns with Second Act
Muay Thai world champ just 16
Page 3
Page 19
Page 30
An artist’s impression of the central lagoon surrounded by luxury hotel rooms as part of the $250m The Davidson by Gurner resort at Port Douglas. Picture: Hunt Design/Gurner Group
CEO recruiting begins l PARRAMATTA PARK | Nick Dalton
Crowning glory Gurner’s $250m luxury resort due to start in 2025 l PORT DOUGLAS | Nick Dalton ONE of the biggest developments at Port Douglas in decades – the $250 million The Davidson by Gurner – has been given the green light with construction expected to start next year. The resort will bring together 112 hotel rooms across a three-storey building, including six “underwater” aquarium rooms with a glassed wall creating an underwater visage into a central lagoon.
Local family owned & operated with over 36 years experience!
The Gurner Group said the company worked closely with Douglas Shire Council over the past 18 months to re-imagine a new level of luxury accommodation for the area, with the developer engaging Port Douglas-based Hunt Design as lead architect to elevate the offering beyond the traditional to create something completely unique to the market on the site of Dougies Backpackers Resort Accommodation and the Pandanus Caravan Park. The resort has been inspired by Europe’s best beach clubs, including Saint Tropez and the Greek islands, that centres around a distinctive blue lagoon and features bars and restaurants, a day spa and gymnasium facilities.
The resort will also feature a residential component, consisting of 44 ultra-luxury homes and town homes (priced between $2.5m-$10m), with seven different villa types and the ability to provide both short-term and permanent accommodation. Gurner Group chief executive officer Tim Gurner said it was “a huge opportunity for the future of Port Douglas”. “The incredible area is crying out for some amazing accommodation that highlights its natural beauty, which is what inspired the design of our luxury wellness experience that locals will be proud of,” he said.
CONTINUED PAGE 3
ALL Cairns regional councillors will decide on a new chief executive officer after a short list is drawn up. Councillors at Wednesday’s meeting appointed Mayor Amy Eden, her deputy Brett Olds, experienced councillor Cathy Zeiger and new councillor Matthew Tickner to a recruitment panel for a replacement for Mica Martin who resigned last week. An external consultant will also assist the panel. Acting chief executive officer Christine Posgate said the role would be advertised within Queensland and across Australia to ensure “the widest pool of candidates”. She said if any applicants had “a close relationship” with any of the panel then the council would deal with a conflict of interest during the process. Cr Eden said Cr Tickner had been selected for the panel as he was a new councillor and because Cr Trevor Tim was aligned to her election campaign as a Team Eden candidate. A third new councillor, Cr Anna Middleton, had not been selected because there had to be gender balance on the panel, Cr Eden said. WATER FUNDING PAGE 3