Sir Richard Branson's Makepeace Island $850 a night hotel plans hit Sunshine Coast hurdles
Entreprenuer Sir Richard Branson faces hurdles in making it cheaper to stay on Makepeace Island, his Australian resort retreat on Queensland's Sunshine Coast.
"Council has concerns that a hotel use involving a liquor licence may not be appropriate in this location," was the recent message back from Sunshine Coast Council.
"The noise limits applied in the licence may not offer an acceptable amenity due to the close proximity of residential areas," the council report advised.
The council also has concerns about the adequacy of the existing effluent disposal system to cater for the proposed use of the 20 guests. The application didn't face any local opposition, and there is an expectation the issues raised by the council can been readily overcome.
The island, which is marketed as accommodating up to 22 castaways, has received a promotional boost by being featured in the latest X Factor series on Channel 7.
Most guests have only been able to stay on Makepeace Island if they book out the whole island.
Pricing began at $8000 plus a night and at $16,500 peak season and is now at $3250 for the whole island, plus $550 per guest per night.
Futher plans were announced earlier this year with the hope of a re-launch of the island as a boutique hotel towards the end of the year allowing the opportunity to stay without hiring the whole island.
The anticipated introductory pricing will start from an all-inclusive $850 per person subject to council approval.
Branson opened his private retreat to the luxury holiday market in early 2011 for well-heeled travellers, but now maintains "given the unique nature of the proposed use there is likely to be a strong need for this type of tourist facility, given that it is not provided for elsewhere within the Sunshine Coast region."
Branson, along with Virgin Blue executives Brett Godfrey and former colleague Rob Sherrard, had bought the heart-shaped island for $2.86 million in 2007.
Guests travel to and from the island by riverboat, and it contains a host of facilities, such as an outdoor cinema and a full-sized tennis court, to keep them occupied.
There is a main house, three two-bedroom villas and a four-bedroom guest house. It has a boathouse, lagoon pool and a 15-person spa.
The syndicate has spent more than $7 million on the property, giving it "the look and feel of a Balinese resort."Under the $850 a person per night plan the price will include meals and transfers, but alcohol will be extra.
"Makepeace Island is my home when I come to Australia,'' Branson told News Ltd's national travel reporter, Angela Saurine.
"Love Noosa, love that part of Australia,' he said.
