Arabic version: المحكمة توافق على تطوير مرتفع شيراتون المعدل في هيرفي باي

The Planning and Environment Court has approved a revised high-rise development for a Sheraton resort in Hervey Bay, Queensland, following an appeal from a local wildlife group. According to ABC News, the court’s decision comes after 19 months of mediation and modifications to the original plans.

Initially approved by the Fraser Coast Regional Council in 2024, the development was set to be an 18-storey resort, which raised concerns about its potential impact on local wildlife, particularly endangered sea turtles and migratory birds. The Wildlife Preservation Society of Queensland (WPSQ) appealed the council’s decision, arguing for a reduction in height to the six-storey limit established by local planning regulations.

The approved amendments now include a reduction in height for the residential tower to 16 storeys and the hotel tower to 12 storeys. Additionally, changes were made to the lighting design to minimize its impact on surrounding wildlife, and the basement car park was removed to address noise concerns.

Despite the modifications, local activists, including Sue Brooks from the Torquay Towers Appeal Group, expressed mixed feelings about the outcome. Brooks acknowledged the relief of concluding the lengthy appeal process but voiced disappointment that the building would still exceed the local height restrictions. She expressed hope that economic conditions might render the project unviable.

Sunny Beach Land, the developer, welcomed the court’s decision, emphasizing the project’s potential to boost local tourism and economic growth. Councillor Paul Truscott, one of the supporters of the development, reiterated that the project would still fulfill the core uses initially approved by the council, including residential and recreational facilities.