Rumours swirl mining magnate wants to acquire marina

New Buyer?

Michael Warren

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Could Australia’s richest woman be interested in buying the Crystalbrook Collection superyacht marina?

CrystalBrook Collection super yacht marina – the pride and joy of billionaire owner Ghassan Aboud could soon be changing hands and right into the waiting arms of none other than Australia’s richest lady.

Over the past few days speculation has continued to build that Gina Rinehart – a passionate boatie – is circling to acquire the marina from Mr Aboud – himself the lavish owner of a number of properties in Cairns including Riley, Bailey and Flynn Crystalbrook along with his own super yacht, MV Bahama.

A Crystalbrook Collection marina employee offered Newsport a firm “no comment” when asked about any such move, with the response only adding to speculation that such a development could be a possibility.

Douglas Shire Mayor Michael Kerr said “he wasn’t aware” of any such rumour of Ms Reinhart’s potential intentions to buy Queensland’s northernmost marina, which has 132 berths.

In more recent times the mining magnate implored the Queensland Government to provide better and more suitable berth offerings for superyachts ahead of the 2032 Brisbane Olympics.

A number of Newsport’s recent phone calls and emails to Ms Rinehart’s Hancock Prospecting office to verify or substantiate the rumours went unreturned.

Great Keppel Island pull-out

Only a week ago came the announcement that Ms Rinehart abandoned plans to redevelop the once-famous Woppa-Great Keppel Island, off the central coast of Queensland.

There were high hopes among residents and tourism operators in the region that she would be the one to pull off what others had so far failed to do.

But after an extensive review process into the feasibility of her company's plans to build a world-class beach club, Hancock Prospecting decided it cannot proceed with the project.

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