Eco worries over Virgin’s island retreat
A report as from as far away as Scotland in the Scotsman says that Sir Richard Branson, the billionaire Virgin chief, was last night at the centre of an environmental controversy over plans to build a luxury retreat for his employees on a pristine Australian island.
Plans for the £2 million, nine-hectare estate at Makepeace Island, on the Noosa River, on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, have already been scaled back by the entrepreneur.
A country club and a helipad have been abandoned.
Russell Green, Councillor for Noosa and chairman of the environment and planning committee which finally passed the project, said, “As a council, we had to say that (Sir Richard] couldn’t create his own private Club Med on the island.”
“I think at first there were plans for a country club and helipad and we said, ‘Not going to happen’.”
Last week, bulldozers and builders were working on the redevelopment of heart-shaped Makepeace Island, but environmentalists have expressed fears about the removal of trees and an 85-year-old timber Queenslander house.”
Sir Richard bought the island for £1 million in May 2003 and now owns it in partnership with Brett Godfrey, managing director of Virgin Blue Airlines.
The idea was to turn it into a retreat for the owners’ families and for use by the Virgin airline’s staff.
On Makepeace, there will be three villas attached to the revamped timber house, a lagoon pool in landscaped gardens, a tennis court and kitchen.
Heather Jeffery, a spokeswoman for Virgin, yesterday said: “From the outset, [Sir Richard and Mr Godfrey] wanted their staff to be able to use the island, so it has always been available for staff use, day visits, overnight stays, barbecues etc.
“When it’s fully developed, it will be a significant private resort with guest accommodation and will also be used for company conferences and retreats.”
Ms Jeffery denied claims the original house had been destroyed. She said much of the original structure had termite damage, but had been preserved as much as possible.
“The house has been raised, living areas and main bedroom saved and relocated to the centre of the island,” she added.
She said plans included planting and transplanting trees.
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