Exclusive: $23 Million Island Resort in the Whitsundays Attracts Five Bidders – But Locals Fear It Will Ruin the Charm of Their Beloved Town
- A 92-hectare island in the Whitsundays, Stone Island, has attracted five expressions of interest from potential buyers, with a proposed resort and overwater gondola service
- The master plan includes 18 oceanfront homes, 12 bungalows, and an upgraded guests’ lodge, with a cable car service connecting tourists from Bowen to the island
- Locals are divided on the development, with some welcoming investment but others fearing it will ruin the town’s laid-back lifestyle and natural beauty
- The Whitsunday Regional Council has approved the construction of 18 villas and a restaurant on the island, but the cable car proposal is still pending
Deep in the heart of the Whitsundays, a 92-hectare island is on the cusp of a multi-million dollar transformation, with five parties vying for ownership and a proposed resort that promises to bring jobs and tourism to the region.
But as the bidding war heats up, locals are sounding the alarm, warning that the development could spell disaster for the town’s cherished way of life.
Stone Island, a picturesque haven just under 2 kilometres from the North Queensland town of Bowen, has been on the market since October last year.
The seller, who is managing the sale of the island, has revealed that five interested buyers have come forward with opening offers of up to $23 million.
The master plan for the resort includes 18 oceanfront homes, nearly a dozen bungalows, and an upgraded guests’ lodge in “Dutch-Indies-style” architecture. But the real showstopper is the proposed overwater gondola service, which would connect tourists from a lookout on Flagstaff Hill in Bowen to the island.
Richard Vanhoff, the agent managing the sale, says the resort could be a game-changer for the region. “If they adopt the master plan, they get a fairly decent-sized resort comparable to Hamilton Island, I suspect — without the airport,” he said.
However, Vanhoff acknowledges that interested parties might have their own ideas about how the resort should look, leaving the door open for potential changes to the proposal.
But not everyone is celebrating the potential development. Zara Butler, a Bowen resident of 20 years, says the town’s charm is at risk of being lost in the process.
“I think there should be access for locals to be able to just go over and have a wander around on the island,” she said. “We love to have the tourists come and visit us, but then, we moved to Bowen for the laid-back lifestyle, being a small town.”
Cr John Finlay, Whitsunday councillor, also expressed doubts about the proposed cable car service. “You’d have to really weigh up the business case for a gondola type of set-up, to see whether or not that’s viable,” he said.
The Whitsunday Regional Council has approved the construction of 18 villas and a restaurant on the island, but the cable car proposal is still pending.
Analysis: What This Means for Australia The potential development of Stone Island raises important questions about the balance between economic growth and preserving the natural beauty of our regions.
As the Whitsundays continue to attract tourists and investors, it’s crucial that we consider the long-term implications of large-scale developments on local communities and the environment.
Security analysts say that the influx of tourists and new infrastructure could put pressure on local emergency services, while law enforcement insiders warn of potential increased crime rates.
Industry observers believe that the development could also lead to a surge in property prices, potentially pricing out long-time residents.
As the bidding war for Stone Island heats up, one thing is clear: the fate of this idyllic island hangs in the balance. Will the proposed resort bring prosperity to the region, or will it spell disaster for the town’s cherished way of life?
Only time will tell.
