Port of Airlie- Poised for marine boom

by Jeni Bone on 27 Nov 2008 Airlie is poised to profit from a multi-million dollar project that will put it on the map as a holiday destination, part of the collaboration of a highly respected environmentalist, an equally acclaimed architect and an award-winning developer with vision and commitment.

Airlie Beach has become known, as rightfully so, as 'the gateway to the Whitsundays', but there is much more to the perfectly positioned peninsula on the calm crest of Pioneer Bay.

Meridien is well underway with its $500 million Port of Airlie project with massive civil works, to dredge and reclaim sand and mud from the bay, the first step of the scheme which alone will cost more than $80 million. Scheduled to be finished in the next four or five months, this foundation phase will progress to the construction of the hotels, restaurants and recreational precinct, with the first hotels due to open mid-2010.

Meridien Managing Director, Russell McCart says the project, a mere concept for so long, is a project of state significance.

'I doubt any major development has ever come through such scrutiny,' he said. 'Port of Airlie has passed two dozen approval processes in all three tiers of government. None of that was easy – it all had to be earned.'

Of main concern to the partners involved was the reception and acceptance of the residents and broader community.

'The community had to have the confidence that what we were proposing was right for the area and that it would be done the right way.'

The Queensland government sought proposals for the Airlie Beach area. Meridien came up with a design that included 500 hotel rooms, 4000m² of retail space, a world-class marina with 240 marina berths and ship terminal.

According to McCart, the region has long been in need of 'a better balance'.

'The general community opinion was that Airlie Beach needed better quality dining and retail experiences, not just for visitors, but for the locals as well. It has been seen as more oriented to backpackers and perhaps that the service levels are not up to scratch. The aim of Port of Airlie is to inject new options for the residents and tourists to Airlie and show all it has to offer.'

Estimates forecast that the new facilities will extend visits to the area by one to two days, a boon for businesses with the economic windfall benefiting the entire population.

Port of Airlie in its current incarnation is about one eight of the size of the massive proposal which didn’t leave the drawing board in the 80s, but it’s still destined to be the biggest project North Queensland has seen for a long time. The concept has been made possible through partnership with Architect Gary Hunt and Australia’s top environmentalist, Dr Hugh Lavery.

'Port of Airlie is the first, and one of the largest tourism developments in Queensland to be approved under Australia’s Environmental Protection Biodiversity Conservation Act (EPBC) 1999,' says McCart.

Meridien corporate advisor, Dr Lavery, who was recently honoured as the inaugural winner of the Certified Environmental Practitioner of the Year (CEnvP) for Australia and New Zealand, says the project will set a new benchmark for the way in which tourism developments are undertaken throughout Australia.

'What is being done here by Meridien is best practice, not just by Australian standards, but also by international standards,' says Dr Lavery.

The architect, Gary Hunt, is renowned for his 'relaxed, tropical' style of design, according to McCart.

'We wanted someone who shared our vision of how Port of Airlie should look and feel. I found Gary Hunt in Port Douglas and saw his work and immediately there was a meeting of minds on the design.'

Port of Airlie embraces true colonial North Queensland architecture with all the mod-cons seamlessly melded into the aesthetic.

Above all, the new development will cater to all interests and be accessible to all people, not some exclusive private resort for the privileged few.

'Port of Airlie will help the town when times are tough,' states McCart, adding that the broader appeal of this multi-faceted precinct will position Airlie as 'a fascinating destination in its own right'.

Tourism Queensland statistics show that visitors to the region spend more than in any other destination in the state, meaning any extension to their stays has the potential to yield lucrative revenue for the local economy.

So highly prized are the Whitsundays, Meridien is committed to extensive measures that ensure construction will not impact upon the pristine environment.

'We’ve spent $10 million dollars on a bund and sheet pile wall that completely surrounds the civil works which ensures the construction works are contained,' explains McCart. 'That’s just one example of the extraordinary lengths we’ve gone to.

'I have personally spent a lot of time in The Whitsundays. I’ve sailed all around the world and nothing compares. It’s heartening to see Australians value what they have here in their own backyard. Airlie Beach has always been the gateway to the Whitsundays but Port of Airlie will make it a unique destination.'


More at www.portofairlie.com.au