A $130 million marina development beginning at Innisfail next month could be the forerunner for a bigger marina community across the Johnstone River.
Developer Metricon Queensland received final approval from the Cassowary Coast Regional Council this week for a 56-berth marina, a restaurant and village precinct and 178 surrounding house lots with private moorings on a man-made saltwater lake.
Earthworks are expected to begin at the start of August on former farming land just east of Innisfail.
Meanwhile, Metricon has also lodged concept plans for a marina development on cane land on the other side of the Johnstone River off Reynolds Rd.
Cassowary Coast Mayor Bill Shannon said the marina was one of a handful of major developments for the town, with a six-storey riverside apartment building expected to open next month, a smaller town marina under way soon and big plans in the north for a "resort town" at Ella Bay.
"It’s great news … rather than encouraging development here what we need to do now is steer it," he said.
Seahaven will be a five-stage development. Blocks would range in size from 760sq m to 1350sq m.
