Satori Resorts Ella Bay Pty Ltd (Satori) proposes to construct a $1.4 billion integrated tourism and residential community at Ella Bay, 10 kilometers north east of Innisfail. The site is within the Cassowary Coast Shire.

The proposal includes the redevelopment of a 450 hectare cattle station into a master planned community over a 10 to 15 year period. The development will incorporate 540 residences with golf course access, many with ocean or lagoon views, up to six resorts with ocean frontage and beach access, village precinct, 'signature' championship 18-hole golf course, public swimming lagoon, retail outlets and public infrastructure.

Direct employment during construction is expected to be around 1800 and once fully operational about 655 jobs will be available for the operation of the new resorts, golf courses, retail and associated facilities.

Environmental Impact Statement process

On 15 September 2005 the Ella Bay Integrated Resort was declared a 'significant project' under section 26(1)(a) of the State Development and Public Works Organisation Act 1971 (Qld) (SDPWOA).

The statutory impact assessment process under the SDPWOA Act is also the subject of a bilateral agreement between the state and federal governments in relation to environmental assessment under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act).

The proponent referred the proposal to the Federal Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts in accordance with the provisions of the EPBC Act. The minister decided, on 4 July 2005, the proposal did constitute a 'controlled action' under Section 75 of the EPBC Act, with the controlling provisions being:

• World Heritage (sections 12 and 15A)
• listed threatened species and communities (sections 18 and 18A).

The public comment period for the EIS prepared by the proponent closed on 21 May 2007. An executive summary of the EIS may be downloaded below.

On this occasion, due to some significant amendments/refinements to the project, it has been decided to seek public comment on a Supplementary EIS, which has been prepared by Satori to address issues raised in submissions on the EIS. The public comment period for the Supplementary EIS prepared by the proponent closed on 16 May 2008. An executive summary of the Supplementary EIS may be downloaded below.

Resources

• Initial Advice Statement
• Terms of Reference ( 412 KB)
• The EIS - Executive Summary ( 848 KB)
• Supplementary EIS Executive Summary ( 3 MB)

Visit Satori’s Ella Bay website to view the full EIS and supplementary EIS.

For project specific enquires, contact Lyndsay at Satori on free call 1800 887 644.

Further information

For more information on the project visit Ella Bay website.

For further information regarding the EIS process for the project, contact the Infrastructure and Economic Development Group and address your enquiry to the Ella Bay Integrated Resort Project.