Queensland Court Rules to Revoke Leases for Abandoned Island Resort

The Queensland Land Court has determined that Brampton Enterprises, the owner of a once-thriving resort on Brampton Island, can lose its leases due to neglect and non-compliance with tourism-related lease conditions.

Located 35 kilometers northeast of Mackay, the 14-hectare island resort, which was popular among tourists, has fallen into a state of disrepair since its closure in 2011, just a year after its acquisition. Natural Resources Minister Dale Last highlighted in court that the company failed to maintain the property, leading to significant deterioration of its facilities.

The ruling, issued last week, allows the state to reclaim the leases for the property, which was previously able to accommodate up to 220 guests and featured amenities such as a golf course and an airstrip. An inspection revealed that the state of the resort buildings had worsened due to tropical weather, with some structures described as “dilapidated to the point of falling down.”

In response to the ruling, Brampton Enterprises has filed an appeal, but no date has been set for the hearing. The company contended that they only needed to avoid non-tourism-related activities on the land and argued that they were working on plans for a new resort. However, the court rejected this, stating that 15 years of inactivity since the resort's closure was excessive for planning processes to count as fulfilling their lease obligations.

Local resident Michelle Cox reminisced about the resort's former glory, recalling the joy it brought to the community during her youth. She expressed her sorrow at seeing the once vibrant destination now abandoned and overtaken by nature.

Source: www.abc.net.au