Whitsunday Paradise

13/03/2022

📣 Media Release 📣

Whitsunday Council inaction delays court case
The company behind plans to develop a $1.1 billion master planned community in Bowen is increasingly frustrated with Whitsunday Regional Council’s ongoing confusion and bureaucracy gone mad.

GRW Group general manager Blake Thomas says the council’s actions during the past five years would be laughable if the project wasn’t so important to Bowen’s future.

“Unfortunately, this issue has the potential to cost every ratepayer in the Whitsunday Regional Council area more than $1000 each in costs,” said Mr Thomas.

Whitsunday Regional Council approved the 2000-dwelling Whitsunday Paradise project in October 2020, but the two organisations are locked into a legal battle about the amount of payment for a planned water reservoir and sewerage infrastructure.
GRW Group general manager Blake Thomas says the council wants the developer to pay twice for the same $20 million of infrastructure, which is a breach of the Planning Act 2016 and ministerial guidelines.

“Look, the simple fact is that Council’s own reports said they needed the reservoir in 2018 to meet current pressure requirements for both residential use and firefighting capacity,’’ said Mr Thomas.
“Anyone who lives in Bowen knows the current system just isn't up to scratch. This poses a serious risk to residents and ratepayers.
“Then magically two weeks before conditioning us to build the reservoir, they said they didn’t need it yet. This raises serious concerns about Council officers and elected officials discharging their duties.”

The sewer infrastructure concerns conditions to replace the current onsite sewerage treatment plant which is identified in WRC documents as trunk infrastructure.
“How Council thinks it can ask us to replace trunk infrastructure with 6km of pipes which will service the whole area, and then charge us to connect to it, is beyond belief,’’ he said.

Additionally, Mr Thomas says both WRC and GRW Group has received advice from the State Government that it was inappropriate for WRC to levy full rates for a sewer service they did not provide.
“This is a fee for no service that needs to be looked at in more detail. I wouldn’t be surprised if Council had to refund almost 20 years of proportional rates to the relevant landowners out there.”

In the latest move, Whitsunday Regional Council’s meeting 9th March, 2022 heard claims from council officials that the developer had asked for a 3-week adjournment in the court case.
But Mr Thomas says council inaction had caused delays in both the court case and in the project going ahead.

“We also have always said that we are always willing to negotiate with the council over the issue, but the council has refused to budge from its legally indefensible position.
Councillors at this meeting also stated the developer should start work on the project now to quickly help ease the Bowen region’s housing crisis.
Mr Thomas said this was also a ridiculous suggestion.
“If we start work on the project, we would be agreeing to the council’s ridiculous current terms and conditions,’’ he said. “There is no way we will be paying twice for the same $20 million of infrastructure.”

BACKGROUND MATERIALS FROM BLAKE THOMAS
When works can commence?

First, we are unable to enact an approval under appeal until the appeal is resolved. The Planning Act prevents this.

In addition to the appeal, we need approval from Department of Transport and Main Roads to start works on the sewer pipes. Ideally, we would have done this in collaboration with Council. Unfortunately, WRC officers were not willing to collaborate in the process.

We have gone to DTMR ourselves and are finalising the detailed designs for the relevant approval.

Status of Appeal

The matter had been set down for review by the court on 25 February. Prior to that, the parties were asked to nominate their experts. We had done so nominating to experts: infrastructure and civil engineering. Council responded with a planning expert, engineering expert and a third economist.

Our solicitors wrote asking why an economist was needed. It was our advice that the issues did not need an economics expert, and this would add unneeded costs on both sides.

Unfortunately, we did not receive a response before the 25th and had to ask for an adjournment.

We have just received a response this week and will be nominating a third expert. The matter will go to the judge next week.

Relationship

It is our desire to invest in the Whitsunday region. However, we do not have to invest in the area. As noted previously, we now have alternative options in high growth corridors with Councils keen to work with us.

As with anything in life, there has to be give and take. Given the very low levels of development in Bowen and the high level of housing demand, it might be a good time for Council to reassess their approach to their development partners.

History in relation to the water reservoir
The water reservoir was included in WRC’s infrastructure planning from 2018 until two weeks before they approved the Whitsunday Paradise project. In their justification report in 2018, WRC Planning Officers said the water reservoir was needed in 2018 but planned on delivering the reservoir in 2022-2026.

The reservoir was needed due to a lack of water capacity in the Bowen network which meant pressures did not meet legal requirements. On 14 October 2020, Council then resolved to remove the reservoir from their planning on the grounds it was not needed until after 2031 because of water savings and reduced demand.

The argument ignores the current water demand of the Bowen network, which is nearly double what the 14 October 2020 resolution states (500 litres per day vs actual use of almost 1000 litres per day. The demand issue is made worse by an almost record influx of people into the region, which is certain to add too existing demand.

Next steps

We cannot commence works until the appeal is resolved. There are additional issues in the STP, bonds and rates.

It might be a good time for the council to come back to the table and speak to us. Our team is available.

- ENDS-

For further media information contact Marshall Hall on 0404 195896 or via email at [email protected]

Whitsunday Regional Council
Bowen Independent
Daily Mercury
Courier Mail
Townsville Bulletin
Mackay and Whitsunday Life
Bowen Collinsville Enterprise - BCE
Bowen Chamber of Commerce Inc.

27/10/2021

Don't miss the next Bowen Collinsville Enterprise - BCE Breakfast Forum to be held at Starboard Cafe on 12th November. Tickets will sell out fast.

24/09/2021

‼ Developer Welcomes Council Economic Plan ‼

Statement from Blake Thomas, GRW Group General Manager.

The developer behind the planned $1.1 billion Whitsunday Paradise project has applauded Whitsunday Regional Council’s decision to endorse a new economic development strategy for the region.

Whitsunday Regional Council this week voted unanimously in support of Lucid Economics’ outline for the council’s future economic pathway.

GRW Group general manager Blake Thomas said the Lucid Economics’ position paper set out clear directions for the council.

“Lucid Economics have set out a clear pathway for the council to follow to enhance the economic strength of the Whitsunday region and one of their key recommendations was that the council should change their current approach to infrastructure charges in order to support housing development,’’ said Mr Thomas.

“I am exceptionally pleased the council has unanimously endorsed this strategy because it is exactly what GRW Group would like the council to offer to us.”

GRW Group and the council are locked in legal battle over planned infrastructure charges for the $1.1 billion Whitsunday Paradise project.

Whitsunday Regional Council approved the 2000-dwelling Whitsunday Paradise project in October last year but work on the project is still delayed because of two outstanding conditions: a planned water reservoir and new sewer pipes.

Mr Thomas said the council, in its conditions, had clearly tried to ‘double dip’ on infrastructure charges.

“The council wants to make us pay twice for the same $20 million of infrastructure, which is a clear breach of the Planning Act 2016 and ministerial guidelines,’’ said Mr Thomas.

“We understand that the council was trying to get the best possible financial result for its ratepayers but what it is suggesting is unlawful.

“I want to emphasise that our offer to pay for the full infrastructure cost in no way risked council or ratepayers’ money. We, as the developer, intend to pay for everything, but only once.”

The Lucid Economics report to the Whitsunday Regional Council found that a key issue affecting investment in the region was a lack of housing.

“The issue impacts the entire region, including seasonal workers, key service workers (for tourism) and most businesses’ ability to recruit staff,’’ the report said.

The report said the lack of housing meant that many businesses could not attract staff at any skill level.

“Given the critical state of the housing shortage and its current detrimental impact on economic development, Council intervention is required,’’ the report said.

“Even though it is not the role of Council to deliver housing outcomes, Council can encourage and support the development of housing in a number of ways, through its planning and development process as well as providing incentives to encourage investment in housing.”

Mr Thomas said GRW Group had offered to completely pay for the $20 million of water and sewage infrastructure for the Bowen region.

“In a normal situation in Queensland, a developer would pay infrastructure contributions to a council to connect newly developed properties to the council’s trunk infrastructure,’’ he said.

“However, in this case the council’s infrastructure does not meet Bowen’s existing needs, let alone the future needs of the entire growth corridor south of Bowen.

“As a result, we have offered to deliver $20 million infrastructure upfront to resolve the Council network shortfalls instead of “paying as we go”.

“This is the standard approach under Queensland planning laws in situations where the current Council infrastructure is inadequate. In this circumstance the Planning Act allows for an ‘offset’ or reduction in the charges payable given part of the Council trunk network is paid and delivered by GRW.

However, the council wants GRW Group to pay the $20 million upfront and also ongoing contributions.”

Mr Thomas said despite council claims, requiring a developer to construct a $14 million reservoir was not standard conditions.

“The reservoir was first planned by the council in 2018 and it stayed on the council’s planned works until it suddenly disappeared off their plan two weeks before the approval of the Whitsunday Paradise project,” he said.

Mr Thomas said the Whitsunday Paradise project would provide significant benefits to the Bowen community.

“We are ready to start work on a project that will deliver $1.1 billion in benefits to the community over the next 20 years and the council, for its own reason, is not supporting it.”

Studies undertaken by the GRW Group detail the benefits of the project. These include:

SHORT TERM BENEFITS
✔ 84 jobs almost immediately
✔ $6.2 million in infrastructure charges to the council with the first stage
✔ $20 million in water and sewerage infrastructure
✔ $20 million in upgrades to the Bruce Highway
✔ $100 million in capital expenditure in the first two stages
✔ $3000 per annum increase in rate base per lot, with at least $500,000 included in the first stage

LONG TERM BENEFITS
✔ At least 100 and up to 400 jobs per stage
✔At least $60 million in infrastructure charges across the 10 stages
Water and sewerage security moving forward as a catalyst for future development
✔ $28 million total in upgrades to the Bruce Highway
At least $300 million to be spent in the region over the life of the project
✔ $1.1 billion in economic impact for the region (this is not profit for the developer)
✔ $191 million increase in household incomes over the 10 stages
✔ Over $6 million increased rate base per annum over the life of the project



For further media information contact:
Marshall Hall on 0404 195896 or via email at [email protected]

Whitsunday Regional Council
Bowen Independent
Daily Mercury
Courier Mail
Townsville Bulletin
7NEWS Mackay

15/09/2021

‼ GRW Group Responds To Council Claims ‼

Statement from Blake Thomas, GRW Group General Manager.

Whitsunday Regional Council seems to be confused about the GRW Group proposal to build the $1 billion Whitsunday Paradise master planned community south of Bowen.

Firstly, Chief Executive Officer Rod Ferguson says GRW Group is seeking changes to an existing infrastructure agreement. This is NOT correct. There is NO infrastructure agreement in place. We have been trying to obtain an infrastructure agreement ever since we first lodged our application in 2018 but the council still has not agreed to one.

Mr Ferguson also seems misinformed that ratepayers would pay the costs of building the infrastructure. GRW Group has offered to completely pay for the $20 million of water and sewage infrastructure.

In a normal situation in Queensland, a developer would pay infrastructure contributions to a council to connect newly developed properties to the council’s trunk infrastructure. It’s like a “pay as you go” system to access the large, shared infrastructure. However, in this case the council’s infrastructure does not meet Bowen’s existing needs, let alone the future needs of the entire growth corridor south of Bowen.

As a result, we have offered to deliver $20 million infrastructure upfront to resolve the Council network shortfalls instead of “paying as we go”. This is the standard approach under Queensland planning laws in situations where the current Council infrastructure is inadequate. In this circumstance the Planning Act allows for an ‘offset’ or reduction in the charges payable given part of the Council trunk network is paid and delivered by GRW.

However, the council wants GRW Group to pay both the $20 million upfront and also the “pay as we go” contributions.

The council has tried to make us pay twice for the same $20 million of infrastructure, which is a clear breach of the Planning Act 2016 and ministerial guidelines.

I want to emphasise that our offer to pay for the infrastructure in no way risked council or ratepayers’ money. We, as the developer intend to pay for everything, but we have no intention of paying for it twice.

For further media information contact Marshall Hall on 0404 195896 or via email at [email protected]

Whitsunday Regional Council
Bowen Independent
Daily Mercury
Courier Mail
Townsville Bulletin

22/07/2021

Wonderful opportunity to check out the Army exercise happening in Bowen this weekend. 🪖🇦🇺

Bowen residents will get the chance to check out military equipment & machines and chat with Australian Defence Force members during an Army Open Day on Santa Barbara Parade at the hard stand area near Catalina this Sunday from noon to 4pm.

The ADF are in Bowen as part of Talisman Sabre 2021 which is the largest bilateral combined training activity between the Australian Defence Force and United States military.

This year’s exercise will involve more than 17,000 personnel from Australia and the United States and be spread across North Queensland and as far south as Bundaberg.

Exercise Talisman Sabre 2021 is the ninth iteration of the exercise and incorporates force preparation activities, amphibious landings, ground force manoeuvre, urban operations, and air combat and maritime operations.

13/07/2021

What an achievement, think of all those new people that have now fallen in love with Bowen and want to call Bowen home 🏡🏡

We are very excited to announce that we welcomed more than 42,000 visitors to the Bowen region in the 2020/2021 financial year.
Pictured with the Big Mango are two of our very dedicated volunteers, Ruthie Carter-Crump and Anne Mason, who were excited to hear the news.
To read the full release, visit https://bit.ly/3hAhQbK

10/07/2021

🔥🔥 BUSHFIRE HAZARD MITIGATION WORKS TO BEGIN🔥 🔥

We are proud to announce that we have awarded further works within Whitsunday Paradise Estate to another Bowen local company 'Whitsunday Ag'. Mick and the team will be onsite to commence Bushfire Mitigation works which will include fire breaks and fuel clearing surrounding the onsite Sewerage Treatment Plant.

‼ Keeping Our Residents Safe ‼

08/07/2021

‼ Exciting times at Whitsunday Paradise this week ‼

We have now awarded a site pe***ng contract to local surveying company 'Veris'. You will see the team onsite pe***ng out the boundaries for Bushfire mitigation work to then begin shortly after.

Keeping our residents safe 🔥🔥

08/06/2021

Another great promotion for Bowen coming to your screens soon. 📺

Hmm, we wonder where Liz is visiting in this week's show? 🤔🥭️

21/05/2021

All eyes to the sky 🚀🚀

Great news for growth in the Bowen region.

https://www.zdnet.com/article/queensland-to-build-small-rocket-launch-site-at-abbot-point/?fbclid=IwAR0sKyus9v_r6CwXWk0BVmGouse8pQs-_nqqHc-aPQsZi0m_0Jq0FgIkcs0

Gilmour Space Technologies will build a small rocket launch pad to send low-Earth Orbit satellites into space.