Building ties: The exclusive Double Island resort will now have a link with Kewarra Beach Resort.

Owner of the Double Island private resort Sean Howard plans to open up the exclusive facility to guests of Kewarra Beach Resort

This follows Mr Howard's decision to buy the resort as part of a 48ha beachfront land parcel which he plans to develop.

Although the exact price has not been released, sales agents Colliers International said the price was $30 to
40 million.

Mr Howard said the resort would operate for many years while development of the adjoining beachfront land tracts went ahead.

"In fact Kewarra Beach Resort will benefit - it will be unique among resorts in the Cairns-to-Palm Cove area because it will be able to offer its' guests access to Double Island," Mr Howard said.

"We believe that a holiday on the mainland at Kewarra and then on a tropical island - with all that each has to offer - will be of great appeal to visitors.

"We intend setting a high standard of residential, tourism and over-55s accommodation in an environment rich in natural beauty with creeks, mangroves, ocean frontage and easy access to Cairns, the rainforests, the reef and Cairns International Airport," Mr Howard said.

"Development will take place progressively over the next five to seven years, with protection of the unique environment a priority."

Mr Howard and associated companies bought three properties on the coast between Trinity Beach and Palm Cove.

The 48ha coastal land parcel includes 485m of beach frontage and is just 20 minutes north of Cairns. The sale was negotiated by Colliers International Cairns father-and-son team Ian and Jay Beattie.

Kewarra Beach Resort was developed by Robert Prettejohn in 1985 as one of the Far North's first environment-themed resorts.

Robert Prettejohn and wife Oonagh have owned and operated the resort since they created it on former cane land in the 1980s. They will still own and run Thala Beach Lodge.