29 June 2006

HOW much does developer Russell McCart love Townsville?
 
So much, he wants us to be the capital of a new Australian State.
 
The Brisbane-based managing director of Meridien was on Magnetic Island yesterday showing off a unit in the nearly completed One Bright Point residential resort.
 
Mr McCart said his new development was likely to bring more tourism to the region, and along with it $14 million.
 
Meridien is also behind the Port of Airlie development in the Whitsundays.
 
This resort will include 15 beachfront homes, mixed with 365 ‘designer’ apartments, a 140-room world class hotel, a 240-berth marina, restaurants and shops.
 
“We really love the North, and have other developments in the north,” Mr McCart said.
 
“I’ve been coming here since I was a kid, up to Cape York and stuff and I think North Queensland is the future of Queensland.
 
“It should be the separate state and Townsville should be the capital.  It should secede from southern Queensland.”
 
One Bright Point will be completed four months ahead of schedule, with residents ready to move in by October.
 
There are 124 apartments, of which three-quarters have already been sold.
 
At the top of the line are ocean-front units going for $1.6 million, while lower-range and lesser-view units go for $395,000.
 
The buildings each follow the curvature of the coastline.
 
“We inherited the site the way it was,” Mr McCart said.
 
“Somebody had already quarried it to get the rock to build this harbour, so we can blend the heights of the buildings along the ridgeline of the point.”
 
Mr McCart said a majority of buyers were from Townsville, who he envisaged would either retire to Maggie or commute to and from the island.
 
“As the ferry service improves, it’s not hard to see people commuting back and forward to Townsville everyday,” he said.