Upgrades to Airlie Beach Tourist Park, QLD

Upgrades to Airlie Beach Tourist Park, QLD

Location: Airlie Beach Tourist Park, Queensland

Client: Discovery Parks Group

Summary:

Discovery Parks Group, Australia's largest owner and operator of park accommodations, embarked on a strategic growth plan to meet market demands and enhance the customer experience. MasterPlan has been a partner in this journey since 2012, providing town planning services for over 35 park locations across various states.

Challenge and Solution:

The Airlie Beach Tourist Park, situated on a 12-hectare property in Queensland's Mackay, Isaac & Whitsunday region, faced unique challenges. Portions of the property were designated as high-risk areas due to their classification on the protected plants trigger map and as regulated vegetation under categories X, B, and R. Additionally, the Whitsunday Planning Scheme 2017 highlighted medium, high, and very high-risk bushfire hazard areas.

The planned expansion included four deluxe cabins, eight safari tents, a 'free form' swimming pool, a theatre area with a 4-metre movie screen, and associated infrastructure. The development application was submitted to the Whitsunday Regional Council in October 2019 and referred to the State Development and Referral Agency. Remarkably, no submissions were received during the public notification phase, leading to approval in March 2020.

MasterPlan collaborated closely with Greenhill Design, bushfire hazard specialists Bushfire Risk Reducers, and ecological consultants Spectrum Environmental. This collective effort resulted in a successful planning outcome that considered the challenges posed by valued vegetation and bushfire risk, enabling the much-needed upgrade of this popular tourist park.

Key Results:

The development permit secured through the collaborative efforts of MasterPlan and its partners will facilitate the essential upgrade of the Airlie Beach Tourist Park, improving amenities and enhancing the visitor experience in this picturesque Queensland destination.