Lindeman Island Redevelopment

It’s not often that you get the opportunity to work on projects like this . . .

Lindeman Island has always been valued for its natural beauty, with its white sandy beaches, crystal-clear waters, and lush tropical vegetation making it a popular destination for visitors to the Whitsunday Islands but was severely damaged during Cyclone Yasi in 2011. The island has since been abandoned for over a decade. It is therefore exciting to be involved with the Well Smart Group in the company’s efforts to redevelop the island and provide high-quality, environmentally conscious, and family-friendly resort accommodation in the Whitsunday area.

There has been a lack of investment in the redevelopment of islands over the past decade with local businesses and tourism operators keen to see this development proceed. Economic benefits from a construction standpoint alone over 1 year include a projected output (GRP) of $59.77M, 159 local jobs and $19.7M value added.

Tourism within the Whitsundays region is a key underpinning driver for the area’s regional economy. The sectors contribution to the development of jobs and influence toward regional population growth both directly and indirectly via selling the region to the world and domestically cannot be underestimated. With this in mind the Well Smart Group engaged Momentum to assist with developing a Business Case and preparing the associated Qld State Government grant submission to support realisation of the vision.

As Rob Cocco (CEO, Regional Development Australia – Greater Whitsundays) points out ‘Tourism is a powerhouse industry for the Whitsunday region, the industries gross revenue generated by businesses in the LGA, totals almost $800M per annum and employs almost 3,700 people (1 in 4 jobs) and provides almost $220M per annum in regional wages and salaries. Equally, visitor spend in tourism in the region supports other services and industries such as accommodation and food services, administration and support services, transport, postal and warehousing services, retail trade, manufacturing, agriculture and arts and recreation’.

The project will be delivered over stages with the first stage expected for completion by Christmas 2024.