AusLeisure

A proposed $600 million resort near Yeppoon has moved to the next stage after the Queensland's Coordinator-General released the final terms of reference for the project's environmental impact statement (EIS).

Queensland Deputy Premier, Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning Jeff Seeney believes that the potential project was an exciting tourism venture that could create more than 20,000 jobs.

Minister Seeney stated "the proponent, Iwasaki Sangyo Co, aims to construct a new 300-room, 5-star resort with fine dining and recreational facilities on the southern side of its existing Mercure Capricorn Resort.

"Being a project of significant scope, the Coordinator-General declared it a 'coordinated project' in December. This means the Coordinator-General will coordinate a whole-of-government response to its assessment.

"The terms of reference for the project's EIS have now been finalised and will ensure a range of potential environmental impacts, especially any impacts on sensitive areas like Corio Bay and Byfield National Park, will be robustly examined."

The existing Mecure Capricorn Resort is already one of the largest employers in the region and if approved, this new resort is expected to create further local employment opportunities.

The resort will be located on 9,000 hectares of land already owned by Iwasaki Sangyo Co. with around 1,400 hectares of land used for the proposed resort while a further 4,000 hectares of the land would be declared as a nature conservation area.

The finalised terms of reference for the EIS are available at

http://www.dsdip.qld.gov.au/capricornresort

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