VIDEO | Demolition underway for luxury Fairmont

HOTEL DEVELOPMENT

Howard Salkow

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Demolition is underway at the luxury Fairmont Port Douglas development. Video: Newsport.

With demolition under way and expectations their Request for Information will be reviewed positively by Council, developer Paul Chiodo said he was ready and committed to the development of Fairmont Port Douglas situated between the Mirage Country Club and Oaks Resorts and Hotel.

Chiodo told Newsport at this current stage, he is waiting for development approval from council.

“In essence, we must wait for their approval before we can give an exact opening date. If we gain approval within the next five months, we plan to get construction underway immediately thereafter, with plans to open sometime in 2023,” he said.

He said demolition began last week after receiving demolition approval directly from the state government.

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Demolition is underway at the luxury Fairmont Port Douglas development. Image: Newsport.

“We are pleased with how quickly demolition has taken place. Especially given the site's old foundations (Havana site) have been an eye-sore for quite some time.”

He added that the builder will be appointing the trades’ people, “but I can say that a significant majority will be local trades.”

It has been revealed Queensland will be set to receive an added $203m in Annual Gross Value with the imminent construction of the Fairmont hotel. It will be the first new hotel built in Port Douglas in 20 years.

“Our vision is to deliver an environmental hotel that pushes the boundaries in luxury and generates unprecedented interest in, and visitor-ship to, the Port Douglas region.

“The construction of the hotel comes at a time when the local economy has taken a serious hit following restrictions, and we look forward to working with Tourism Port Douglas Daintree, the local community and the region’s First Nations people to rebuild tourism in the region,” said Chiodo.

An artist impression of the planned Fairmont Port Douglas resort. Image: Supplied.

The new Fairmont Port Douglas will be the first of its kind, in that it will be locally focused yet globally artistic, cultivating a celebration of the planet, sustainability, humanity and luxury.

Chiodo, in partnership with Accor, has worked alongside global interior design agency, Studio Carter, international architecture, interiors and brand experience studio, Buchan, and architecture, landscape architecture and product design firm, Durie Design, to conceive the Fairmont Port Douglas.

Notable details of what guests can expect:

  • 5 Star Premium Resort with 252 rooms
  • 6 new food and beverage outlets
  • Wedding reception area for 120 pax
  • Large Function space accommodating 300-400 pax
  • Event space catering to 200-250 pax
  • Poolside and sunset bar
  • Green roof and façade increasing building efficiency and reducing the visual impact
  • A lobby with a rainforest incorporated design.

Fairmont's economic study key findings. Source: Urbis, an interdisciplinary consulting firm offering services in planning, design, property, social planning, economics and research, was engaged by Chiodo Corporation to prepare an independent Economic Benefits Report for its development of a Fairmont Hotel & Resort in Port Douglas, Queensland.

Upon completion and when fully occupied, the development will sustain an estimated 244 direct and indirect jobs. This includes 196 jobs on site and 48 jobs in the supply chain.

The indirect jobs figure can be considered conservative, as the project may generate additional demand for unique local tour operations.

When operational Fairmont Hotel & Resort will provide benefits to the local region including:

  • Community programs through the engagement with the local indigenous community for the display of art, culture tours and employment
  • Engagement with local food producers for the supply of fresh food
  • Links with local tourism operators
  • Development of a First Nation Peoples Social Compact.

The economic impact study undertaken by Urbis can be found here.

Demolition is underway at the luxury Fairmont Port Douglas development, after the site sat as a dormant eye sore for years. Image: Newsport.

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