Whitsundays misses out on Casino

THE Whitsunday region has missed out on getting a casino after the State Government approved two projects for other areas in Queensland.

State Development, Infrastructure and Planning Minister Jeff Seeney has given the green light to projects at Cairns and the Gold Coast.

The integrated resorts plans, including a $8.15 billion project at Cairns and $7.5 billion at the Gold Coast, are now able to proceed to the next stage of development.

These were chosen over two proposals in the Whitsundays area, one at Airlie Beach and another at the old Laguna Quays resort.

“In October last year the Queensland Government decided that up to two gaming licences would be offered to encourage the provision of world-class integrated resorts in regional Queensland,” Mr Seeney said.

“The Queensland Government has identified that these projects have the greatest capacity to deliver the requirements for an integrated resort development in the regions, particularly the potential to attract interstate and international tourists as both these centres have international airports.”