WAVE PARK LATEST: Dave Imgraben determined, defiant as ever to ensure Mowbray wave park becomes a reality

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Michael Warren

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Dave Imgraben talks exclusively to Newsport about the latest regarding the wave park project. Video and screenshot: Michael Warren
Dave Imgraben remains determined to see the Wave Park become a reality. Visualisation: Hunt Design

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It’s literally just over a year since Newsport broke the news right across the Douglas Shire and Far North that North Break wave park director Dave Imgraben withdrew his submission in the Planning and Environment Court to proceed with the highly anticipated project at Mowbray.

After months of continuing legal battles namely sparked from a collective of voices from Douglas Shire Sustainability Group (DSSG) Mr Imgraben, at the time, decided to take stock and reconsider his options.

A short time after that development (DSSG) who long appealed the DA’s approval said the project’s withdrawal “ left the group feeling vindicated in its opposition to this development in our Shire”.

And that “this is a win for all those wishing to safeguard the integrity of our planning scheme and ensuring appropriate development in Douglas Shire.

“The process of the Court has allowed public opinion to be heard and, in this case, validated.”

At the time DSSG opposed the approved DA for the following reasons: inappropriate use of land (the current zoning of the land is rural), building height, built form, character and visual amenity impacts, environmental impacts, particularly given the site is proximate to the Great Barrier Reef and Mowbray River, loss of important agricultural land, flooding impacts on surrounding properties, failure to demonstrate proper infrastructure servicing, particularly given the demand required from Council’s limited potable water supply, adverse traffic impacts, lack of need and inconsistency with community expectations.

Just over a year later Mr Imgraben says hope still remains for the project which was slated to entail a 300 metre long, surfable wave pool and a 10-acre freshwater swimming lagoon.

The application also detailed a three storey 4.5-star hotel with 164 rooms and a future retail area on site that would cater to hospitality, conference, day spa and function spaces.

The developers at the time said the project would also offer short term accommodation, which would consist of 90 self-contained villas, along with a tourist park area of 35 self-contained cabins, a caretaker’s residence and a helipad.

"I defnitely appreciate and remain extremely thankful the wave park received so much support from Douglas Shire community members," Mr Imgraben told Newsport.

"We continue to look at making the wave park a reality - we're still closely looking at its merits, and where there is light, there is hope."

Douglas Shire Council has remained a big supporter of the wave park project.

Last May’s development left many Douglas Shire residents frustrated and disillusioned as yet another highly anticipated development faced staunch resistance from sections of the community.

It was that resistance that led recent Douglas Shire Mayor candidate David Haratsis to pen a well measured, poignant letter to Newsport on May 15 2023 that summed up the sentiments of a lot residents across the Shire.

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David Haratsis comment May 15, 2023 on the Wave Park outcome

Any development here should be sympathetic to residents and the environment, but people need to be realistic too. Until the 80s, this place was a nothing town.

No jobs, no nothing. All those people who want it to remain the same should remember it has never been “the same”. It is constantly changing. And change can be good, if managed properly.

Unfortunately, there is an attitude amongst many people here that any change is bad, and that if you support change you are a “southerner”.

Those people don’t consider that families live here, and want to continue living here. Which benefits the town and saves it from being purely an itinerant place. 

And the only way to keep youth here and maintain employment is with amenities and investment. Opposing any sort of change, which seems to be the norm here, will see the town slowly wither and die as youth move out, and tourists stop paying inflated prices for outdated accommodation.

By encouraging investment in Port Douglas, you encourage a job for local kids and help to keep the town running.

Not every tourist wants to pay a fortune to stay in an old block wall hotel when they could stay in a villa in Bali for less. Be careful what you wish for, DSSG!

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