newman: let's get aquis on the move for cairns

THE BIG QUESTION IS WHO WILL PARTNER WITH HIM?

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PREMIER Campbell Newman has reiterated his and the Government's support of the $4.2 billion Aquis Great Barrier Reef Resort at Yorkeys Knob.

"We want to see it happen for Cairns. It's over $4.2 billion, it's a just a sensational project in terms of the jobs it will create and the long-term impacts in terms of tourism and bringing high-level tourism dollars in to the city," he told Zinc FM listeners.

Mr Newman said the Fung takeover bid for the Reef Hotel Casino "actually helps fast track it (Aquis) in our view".

"We're very happy for the government to sit down with (billionaire Tony Fung) if he ends up successfully owning that licence to see if he wants to split it so he can have two sites, just like a pub has a satellite bottle shop ... or he may want to move the licence," he said.

"Either way we're happy to sit down and work with him on that ... our practical approach is to try to help the thing get going, the main project, Aquis.

"It's got to go through town planning and environmental approvals, but our attitude to those sorts of things is how do we make this happen with appropriate conditions."

Mr Newman said he believed the Reef deal would "be finalised and consummated".

An Aquis spokesman said regardless of Aquis, the Reef Hotel Casino would be developed independently into a world-class casino "with a new approach to gaming from increased Chinese tourism".



http://www.cairnspost.com.au/business/newman-lets-get-aquis-on-the-move-for-cairns/story-fnjpusdv-1226837855467