Aussie-first tourism dream moves closer

An Australia-first skyway and luge tourism destination is moving closer to reality after securing a $5m state government funding boost.

The Queensland government announced its backing for the Whitsunday Skyway on Tuesday, with the $5m allocated to the construction phase of the estimated $100m project.

“This attraction is exactly the sort of showcase we need to give tourists and locals alike a real understanding of the incredible natural beauty of the Whitsundays,” Tourism Minister Andrew Powell said.

“We know visitors are looking for these unique experiences, and I’m confident this will be a world-class facility.

The greenfields project includes a 1.2km cable car linking the town of Airlie Beach to an elevated spot in Conway National Park, 30km of mountain bike trails and a luge on tracks.

The cable car will ascend 430m to a new summit and observation station, which will offer visitors a 360 degree view of North Queensland.

Australian Adventure Tourism Group, a National Stock Exchange-listed company, is developing the project, which still needs approval at the state, federal and local levels.

Mr Powell said the government would work with the company to ensure the approval process was “as efficient as possible”.

“We know the right environmental protections need to be in place because the major drawcard is the nature at its finest here in the Whitsundays,” he said.

“We also need to make sure that operators are getting their projects assessed in a timely way.”

AATG chair Elizabeth said she was “thrilled” by the government’s support.

“We want to get cracking with this amazing project so that locals win in the construction phase with jobs and then visitors win with the completion of the Skyway with access to the best views in the world,” she said.

The company estimates the skyway would attract more than 250,000 visitors each year to the region and create 400 jobs during the construction process.

AATG has a market capitalisation of some $2m, according to the NDX website.

Australia boasts several cable car experiences, but does not have a destination that combines skyway, luge and mountain biking experiences together.

The exact start and end point of the skyway is still subject to review.

If approvals are granted, the company said it plans to open the skyway to the public in 2027.

The Whitsundays, sitting between the coalmining services hub of Mackay to its south and Townsville to its north, serves as a key tourism attraction in the Sunshine State.

The Great Barrier Reef lies directly off the Whitsundays coastline and cruise ships regularly dock at Airlie Beach.