It has been over a year since Tony Fung first proposed Aquis Casino Resort project. Now, the project has received almost approval required, so construction can being on the $8.15 billion tourist destination. This week, Aquis earned federal environmental approval. This was a very important step in the process, as the project developers ensured that the venue would ensure the preservation of the Great Barrier Reef and the tropic rainforests.
In total, there were 13 conditions that had to be met before Aquis could receive environmental approval from the federal government. “This approval demonstrates that the project has been developed to be sensitive to the site’s environmental values and respects the values of the World Heritage listed Great Barrier Reef and wet tropics rainforests,” says Pat Flanagan, project director for Aquis.
“The only outstanding item to be completed is the casino agreement with the State government, which we hope to achieve in a timely manner.” Aquis only requires one more approval before construction can begin. If this happens in a timely manner, then the project is on track to be completed by 2018.
The property will include several luxury hotels, two casinos, a wide range of dining options, a golf course, an artificial lake and a theatre. It will also be a huge boost to the local economy by generating jobs and bringing in plenty of gaming and tourism revenue.
When Aquis is open to the public, it will attract upwards of 1 million visitors per year, bringing valuable tourism dollars into Cairns and North Queensland. It will also create 10 000 permanent jobs for local residents.
About the Author
