Palmer unveils $3b Sun Coast dream

Mr Palmer wants to build a 1,000 bed beachfront hotel and a theme park
at the site of his existing Coolum resort and on adjoining State Government land.

Queensland mining magnate Clive Palmer has unveiled plans to revitalise tourism on the Sunshine Coast with development totalling up to $3 billion.

His proposals include expanding the Sunshine Coast airport so it can handle international Airbus A380 and Boeing 747 aircraft.

Mr Palmer wants to build a 1,000 bed beachfront hotel and a theme park at the site of his existing Coolum resort and on adjoining State Government land.

The airport would be linked to his Coolum Resort by an electric rail service, and a hovercraft service would operate from Brisbane's CBD.

Proposals also include a casino for high rollers, an aquarium and an aviary.

Mr Palmer says if the local community rejects his plans, he will take them overseas.

"We'll be consulting the whole community and we plan to have meetings on the Sunshine Coast with the residents," Mr Palmer said.

"We'll give them a chance to comment on it.

"We've just got to work out how many people are in favour of it and how many people are not."

Mr Palmer expects his plans to create 9,000 jobs.

He says Queensland is up to 30 years behind top international travel destinations because of government policies.

Source: ABC News, 3 August 2012