The resort is set to have nine luxury hotels, a sports stadium, reef lagoon, a golf course and apartments


A multi-billion-dollar resort development in far north Queensland is set to be built on the Great Barrier Reef.

Aquis, the company owned and run by Chinese father and son tycoons Tony and Justin Fung could start construction of the resort as early as 2017.

The Fung family decided to temporarily put aside plans for a casino in the development which would have delayed the project.

The multi-billion dollar resort on the Great Barrier Reef is expected to start undergoing construction as early as next year

Aquis withdrew an application for a casino in order to fast-track the development

Queensland Treasurer Curtis Pitt told the Cairns Post that Aquis will withdraw from an Integrated Resort Development process, which is necessary to get approval for a casino, to fast-track the development.

Mr Fung made an appearance in Cairns yesterday for the first time since failing to take over the city’s existing casino, the Reef Hotel Casino.

The billionaire has since bought a casino in Canberra casino for $6 million.

The proposed casino (above) may resurface in the future but has now been put on hold

Previously, Tony Fung attempted to purchase the existing Casino, Reef Hotel Casino, but the bid was dropped

Special podium: The resort will be built on a special podium to elevate it above the risk level for tusnamis and storm tides and it will have a sea wall under the golf course as a'last defence' against water erosion

It will have nine luxury hotels, a 25,000-seat sports stadium, a 13-hectare reef lagoon, an 18-hole golf course and will include 1,200 apartments, 135 villas, cinemas and luxury shops.

Initially with the casino, the tourist complex would have been built over ten years on 342 hectares of old sugar cane farm land at Yorkeys Knob, a beach north of Cairns as an enclave for 'middle class Chinese gamblers'.

The environmental impact statement for the resort lodged to meet development requirements of World Heritage areas of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park said the developer, Aquis chairman Tony Fung, had 'insisted' the site be on the Reef and near Cairns which draws a large international tourist base with its regular overseas flights.

Mr Fung rejected other coastal cities adjacent to the Reef including Mackay, Bundaberg, Rockhampton and Townsville because they did not have international airports.

Called the Aquis Great Barrier Reef Resort (above) developers say it would attract one million guests a year, a further 500,000 visitors and employ up to 20,000 people

Billionaire developer Tony Fung insisted the resort had to be on the Reef and near an international airport with regular flights

Mega resort: the Aquis resort at Yorkeys Knob on the Great Barrier Reef in Far North Queensland would have a casino, golf course, sports stadium, and will be built in two stages

The Flanagan Group's report said the resort will have an oval for AFL or cricket, soccer and rugby fields and netball courts, tennis courts, an equestrian centre and an archery field, as well as four hotels towers, a 2500 seat theatre, a large aquarium, lagoons and a water feature covering 110,000sq m.

It is also expected to attract one million guests a year, a further 500,000 visitors and employ up to 20,000 people, 24 hours a day, seven days a week

'The Aquis resort proposal involves unprecedented inbound visitation by Chinese-based tourists.' the report said.

'Guests would predominantly be the burgeoning ­Chinese middle-class'.

'Ready access to the World Heritage-listed Great Barrier Reef is an underlying driver of the Aquis Resort concept,' the report said.

'This natural wonder, and its proximity to the World Heritage-listed Wet Tropics rainforests, provides a unique opportunity that does not exist in competing Asian markets for spectacular natural features to attract international tourists from around the world.'

Artists impression: The Aquis resort being planned by Chinese father and son tycoons Justin and Tony Fung will have a 25,000 seat sports stadium, gold course, casino and cinemas