Four developments that may change the face of Douglas Shire

A new petrol station at Cape Tribulation, a sandmine at Cooya Beach, workers’ accommodation at Craiglie and replacing Dougies Backpacker’s and Pandanus caravan park with a new resort - a host of proposed developments across Douglas Shire have been progressing in a variety of ways throughout this year.

In a special report, Newsport takes a look at how they are all coming along:

An application to build a tourism park and worker accommodation on the Captain Cook Highway near Crees Creek has received more than 40 submissions opposing the development.

The park plan by a development company headed by local businesswoman  Krystal DeMenna includes a reception building, more than 50 cabin sites, more than 20 RV and camping sites and more than 10 powered caravan park sites as part of stage one of the park. 

“The Port Douglas business community together with Douglas Shire Council and other State Agencies have identified that there is a critical need to provide affordable and locally based workers’ accommodation,” the plans state. 

Stage two would include another more than 40 cabins.

The submissions come from a range of interested parties including nearby residents at the back of the park on Endeavour Street concerned about loss of amenity and flooding, and local Indigenous people who said they had not been consulted.

“I am a local Kuku Yalanji woman,” one person writes. “I formally object to this application and request that it be refused on the grounds that no one from the application has come and spoken or approach(ed) any traditional owners.”

Another states: “I have owned and lived at my address for some… years and have seen Crees Creek rise... on a number of occasions.”

Cape Tribulation is set to have a new petrol station after plans were approved by Douglas Shire Council.

The staged development for a service station, shop, restaurant, home and “nature-based tourism” operation by developer GBUD Holdings is set to go on Cape Tribulation Road near the corner of Camelot Close just before you reach the township. 

The service station and restaurant  trading hours have been restricted to 8am to 6pm  seven days per week.

The development also includes a 2m-wide by 1.5m-high billboard and eight carparks.

The deadline is looming on a decision about a multimillion-dollar resort development planned for the current site of Dougies Backpackers and Pandanus Tourist Park.

The luxury resort proposal at 91-113 Davidson Road by developers Gurner Group was first approved in May 2024, but a start date for any works were subsequently pushed back to about December 2026.

The approved 2024 plans for the resort included six “underwater” aquarium rooms, with the developer announcing that a planning permit had been granted for the $250m resort with more than 100 rooms.

The three-storey Hunt Design plans were inspired by European beach clubs such as Saint Tropez and those in the Greek islands.

Gurner Group chief executive Tim Gurner said at the time he enjoyed holidaying in Port Douglas and wanted to bring more visitors to the region. 

“The incredible area is crying out for some amazing accommodation that highlights its natural beauty, which is what inspired the design of our luxury wellness experience that locals will be proud of,” he said.