Real Estate
16 July, 2025
Over and out
THE future of the much-lauded $300 million Fairmont Resort at Port Douglas is all but over.
The receivers who were appointed to a company associated with developer Paul Chiodo are selling the property where the resort was to be built.
Under instructions from Jason Tracy and Glen Kanevsky of Alvarez and Marsal as receivers and managers of 75 Port Douglas Road Pty Ltd, Colliers Cairns are selling the freehold development site at 71-85 Port Douglas Road, Port Douglas.
The property has 160m of frontage along the iconic palm tree lined Port Douglas Rd and covers 2.07ha – 2.5km from the Port Douglas town centre.
“Port Douglas is one of Australia’s most idyllic Great Barrier Reef seaside destinations, with reef access via the Crystalbrook Superyacht Marina, the golden sands of Four Mile Beach and world-famous Macrossan St connecting the two and playing host to boutique retail and restaurants,” Colliers Cairns said in a statement.
“Port Douglas Rd provides access from the Captain Cook Highway to the main village and Flagstaff Hill, lined with expansive resorts and luxury residential offerings,” it said.
“71-85 Port Douglas Rd is zoned tourist accommodation, with the site the subject of a previous (now lapsed) resort development approval.
“There is however scope for a wider range of development options under the Douglas Shire Council planning scheme, with opportunities for residential development identified (STCA).
“Existing accommodation operators range from caravan parks through to national brands and boutique resorts, while housing in Port Douglas is some of Far North Queensland’s most valuable, with a median house price of $1.195 million and a prestige market that can dwarf that of larger Cairns to the south.”
Tourism Port Douglas and Daintree executive officer Emma Tunnock said, while it was disappointing to see the project not proceed, “the outcome represents a meaningful step forward after years of uncertainty at the site”.
“It opens the door to new opportunities for investment in one of Queensland’s most iconic destinations – where the Reef and rainforest meet,” she said.
“The Port Douglas-Daintree region is uniquely positioned for sustainable, high-quality tourism development that respects the environment and enhances the visitor experience.
“With a globally recognised brand, strong community support for well-considered projects and a growing demand for nature-based and premium experiences, now is the perfect time for visionary investors to realise the potential of this remarkable region and help shape its future as a key contributor to the state’s visitor economy.”
In December, 2023, the future of the resort proposed for Port Douglas was back in the developer’s hands after a Planning and Environment Court threw out its appeal against the Douglas Shire Council rejecting the high-end property.
The appeal against council’s decision to refuse the development application was dismissed by the court on November 14.
It said the design was “wildly discordant with the character of Port Douglas. It has the potential to diminish the experience of visiting Port Douglas”.
Expressions of interest for the property closed yesterday (Thursday, July 10 at 4pm).
