Green light for Andrew Forrest's $70m Ningaloo Reef resort

An artist's impression of the Exmouth resort's hillside villas. (Supplied: Development application) Andrew Forrest's plan for an Exmouth eco-resort has received final development approval after almost a decade of planning. The Ningaloo Lighthouse Resort was significantly scaled back from initial plans, which raised environmental and cultural red flags. A spokesperson for the project could not confirm when construction would begin. Link copiedShareShare articleMining billionaire Andrew "Twiggy" Forrest's plan for a $70 million luxury resort on the Ningaloo Reef has cleared its final approval hurdle, after years of delays and cutbacks. In 2017, the Ningaloo Lighthouse Resort property, about 1,230 kilometres north of Perth, was snapped up by the magnate, who aimed to redevelop a rundown Exmouth caravan park at the site into an eco-tourism hotspot. But the initial application to build an $85 million, 550-guest retreat was withdrawn while awaiting environmental and cultural approvals. Nearly a decade passed while efforts to give the resort unfettered beach access were dumped by WA's Main Roads authority over fears it could damage an Aboriginal heritage site. Andrew Forrest first submitted plans for the Ningaloo Reef site in 2017. (ABC News: Gian De Poloni) A revised approach, submitted earlier this year to the local shire, reduced its footprint by $15 million dollars and about 400 guests. The application was unanimously approved today by the WA Planning Commission, with minor amendments. It is understood Z1Z Resorts, the accommodation arm of Andrew and Nicola Forrest's Tattarang company, is still working through the conditions in detail but has voiced a willingness to accept the changes before the assessment panel. A spokesperson for the project could not confirm a timeframe for construction or opening. "We look forward to working with the community as the project progresses," the spokesperson said. The larger vision for the resort was given the green light by then WA Environment Minister Reece Whitby in 2023, subject to strict measures to protect wildlife and Aboriginal cultural sites. At the time, the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) recommended special lighting arrangements to minimise its impact on the sea turtles and shorebirds that lay their eggs along the World Heritage-listed Ningaloo coast. The project, situated outside Exmouth and adjacent to the marine park, is unlikely to be assessed by the EPA again, as it has only decreased in size. Current plans involve converting the heritage-listed Vlamingh Head lighthouse keepers' quarters into a hotel reception and constructing dozens of villas, a restaurant, and spa facilities. A concept image of the Ningaloo Lighthouse Resort. (Supplied: Tattarang) Almost four hectares of native vegetation will be cleared within the 45-hectare development. The property still falls within a registered Aboriginal heritage area, Vlamingh Head, that has been a ceremonial and spiritual site for tens of thousands of years. In its submission before the planning commission, Z1Z Resorts said it had obtained approval from the minister for Aboriginal affairs under Section 18 of Aboriginal Heritage Act 1972, and was consulting extensively with traditional owners. Australian Marine Conservation Society chief executive Paul Gamblin previously opposed the development, but said it was now "heading in the right direction". The Ningaloo Lighthouse Resort hopes to source potable water for the villas and plunge pools via groundwater bores, while wastewater will be recycled to irrigate the property. The proposal fuelled unease for the region's already depleted groundwater stores and the fragile subterranean ecosystems that course through the limestone peninsula. "If the current proposal stays within the existing footprint … but then also adopts contemporary energy and water efficient processes, and they should be absolutely world leading for an area like this, then that would be the appropriate approach," Mr Gamblin said. Exmouth Chamber of Commerce president David Gillespie also had groundwater concerns. The state-run Water Corporation announced last year it would construct a seawater desalination plant in Exmouth by 2030, with the local drinking water scheme already approaching capacity. "They've certainly got challenges around the infrastructure domain," Mr Gillespie said. The tourist town of Exmouth in WA's north-west. (ABC News: Alistair Bates) Mr Gillespie said it was a welcome economic reprieve for Exmouth, which was still recovering from ex-Tropical Cyclone Narelle. The category-four system made landfall over Exmouth in March, wrecking a huge swathe of homes and businesses, including its largest resort. "Less beds is putting more stress on the other accommodators (sic) to accommodate everybody at this point in time," Mr Gillespie said. "Exmouth itself is going to take at least 18 months to two years just to get back to some normality." The contro

Green light for Andrew Forrest's $70m Ningaloo Reef resort

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