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Resort operators were alerted after a Hong Kong businessman was deprived of a Queensland Island tourism lease for non-renewal of tourist site.
The twin island, off the far north coast near Cairns, was returned to the Queensland government after it claimed a legal victory.
The island was home to a luxury resort that closed six years ago.
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Resources Minister Scott Stewart said after years of trying to get tenant Benny Wu to restore the dilapidated five-star facility and reopen the island, he had taken the case to the Land Court.
In May, he ruled that the lease could be revoked because its terms – namely the operation of a tourist facility or resort on the island – had been breached.
After the deadline for Wu’s legal team to file an appeal expired this week, Stewart canceled the tourism lease.
Wu’s Fortune Island Holdings Company paid $5.68 million for the lease in 2013.
Stewart said Twin Island is officially back in state hands.
He said the result warned island resort operators to honor their leases or risk losing them.
“The community and local members want to see Double Island open, thriving and accessible, and so do I, which is why I took this action,” Stewart said Friday.
The news was welcomed by local MP Craig Crawford, who said the result was “damn brilliant”.
“It’s now back in the hands of Queenslanders,” he said.
“This is the day we have all been waiting for after six long years.
“Many in the community didn’t think this day would come, but I knew if we stuck to our guns, we would win.”
The government will now assess the island’s infrastructure and consider its future in consultation with local residents in the coming months.
“We want to see the Twin Island restored to its former glory and accessible to locals and visitors,” said Tourism Minister Michael Healy.
“Queensland’s island resorts are the crown jewels of our state’s tourism industry.”
Opposition natural resources spokesman Dale Last said the LNP would keep Double Island as an ecotourism asset if it wins the October election.
In the meantime, local residents have been warned to avoid the island.
“During this time, people should stay away from the former resort while actions are taken to assess and address any hazards,” Stewart said.
“The resort has been out of business for many years and is in a state of disrepair and is not safe for the general public.”
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