Rob McCrae Consulting Group

24/02/2022

12/10/2021

🍅🍅 Workers Required For packing crew in Bowen North Queensland.☀☀
Immediate Start,
$25.66 per hour plus Super etc.
Tomato packing in shed
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Call or text only today for further details call Rob - 0408 634 514

15/09/2021

‼ GRW Group Responds To Council Claims ‼

Statement from Blake Thomas, GRW Group General Manager.

Whitsunday Regional Council seems to be confused about the GRW Group proposal to build the $1 billion Whitsunday Paradise master planned community south of Bowen.

Firstly, Chief Executive Officer Rod Ferguson says GRW Group is seeking changes to an existing infrastructure agreement. This is NOT correct. There is NO infrastructure agreement in place. We have been trying to obtain an infrastructure agreement ever since we first lodged our application in 2018 but the council still has not agreed to one.

Mr Ferguson also seems misinformed that ratepayers would pay the costs of building the infrastructure. GRW Group has offered to completely pay for the $20 million of water and sewage infrastructure.

In a normal situation in Queensland, a developer would pay infrastructure contributions to a council to connect newly developed properties to the council’s trunk infrastructure. It’s like a “pay as you go” system to access the large, shared infrastructure. However, in this case the council’s infrastructure does not meet Bowen’s existing needs, let alone the future needs of the entire growth corridor south of Bowen.

As a result, we have offered to deliver $20 million infrastructure upfront to resolve the Council network shortfalls instead of “paying as we go”. This is the standard approach under Queensland planning laws in situations where the current Council infrastructure is inadequate. In this circumstance the Planning Act allows for an ‘offset’ or reduction in the charges payable given part of the Council trunk network is paid and delivered by GRW.

However, the council wants GRW Group to pay both the $20 million upfront and also the “pay as we go” contributions.

The council has tried to make us pay twice for the same $20 million of infrastructure, which is a clear breach of the Planning Act 2016 and ministerial guidelines.

I want to emphasise that our offer to pay for the infrastructure in no way risked council or ratepayers’ money. We, as the developer intend to pay for everything, but we have no intention of paying for it twice.

For further media information contact Marshall Hall on 0404 195896 or via email at [email protected]

Whitsunday Regional Council
Bowen Independent
Daily Mercury
Courier Mail
Townsville Bulletin

26/08/2021

🎃🎃🎃 and 🍉🍉🍉 Pickers Required in Bowen North Queensland.☀☀
Immediate Start, 8-10 Postions available.
$25.66 per hour plus Super etc.
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🛌🛌 Accommodation available.
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24/06/2021

🍅🍅3 Workers Required For planting crew in Bowen North Queensland.☀☀
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$25.05 per hour plus Super etc.
Tomato and Zuchhini Planting
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🛌🛌 Accommodation available.
Call or text only today for further details call Rob - 0408 634 514

17/06/2021

🍅🍅2 Workers Required For packing shed in Bowen North Queensland.☀☀
Immediate Start,
$25.05 per hour plus Super etc.
Tomato Packing Shed
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🛌🛌Modern Accommodation available.

Call today for further details call Rob - 0408 634 514

30/05/2021

Still looking for workers!!

28/04/2021

🦽🦽Workers Required For multiple Roles Bowen North Queensland.☀☀

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Packing Shed or Paddock
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Accommodation can be provided for right applicants.

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21/02/2021

COUNCIL DECIDES FATE OF $1.1 BILLION BOWEN PROJECT

The future of the $1.1 billion Whitsunday Paradise project at Bowen in North Queensland will be decided on Wednesday 24th February.
Whitsunday Regional Council approved the 2000-dwelling Whitsunday Paradise project in October last year but on Wednesday will vote on three contentious remaining conditions: road widths, a planned water reservoir and new sewer pipes.

Developer Gold Coast-based company GRW Group says the council’s planned conditions could significantly increase the company’s costs and make the project commercially unfeasible.

GRW Group general manager Blake Thomas said the company and the council had been locked in negations in relation to the contentious conditions ever since the council approved the project on 28 October 2020.

“We had hoped that we would have been able to start preliminary works before last Christmas but the negotiations over the conditions have taken significantly longer than expected,” said Mr Thomas.”

“We are hopeful the council will approve fair and reasonable conditions this week and once an agreement is in place, we will release the first round of tender documents for the preliminary works.”

“At the moment we have an opportunity to market Bowen as a destination to those moving out of the major urban centres because of COVID-19.

“This is an opportunity to inject millions of dollars and bring hundreds of new families into a beautiful region keen to share its lifestyle.

“This an opportunity to bring a major project into an area that has been hard hit by the pandemic.”

Mr Thomas said GRW Group will be spending in Stage 1 up to $40 million on infrastructure works required as part of the project including critical improvements to the Bruce Highway and Bowen’s water and sewerage system.

“Importantly these infrastructure improvements alone will create 84 jobs and provide stimulus for further investment in Bowen and the Whitsunday region,’’ said Mr Thomas. “Our studies have shown that over a 20-year period the Whitsunday Paradise project will contribute $1.129 billion to the regional economy and create 400 permanent jobs.”

When completed, Whitsunday Paradise will be a masterplanned community comprising 2000 dwellings for up to 5000 people, a commercial centre and associated sporting fields and parks.
The company lodged its applications with the State Government and the Whitsunday Regional Council for the project, earmarked for a 235ha site 8km south of Bowen, in June 2018.

The State Government granted its final approval for the project in July 2020.

Mr Thomas said the masterplan included a range of lot sizes to accommodate traditional houses, townhouses, units and potentially tourist accommodation. The first stage of the project is planned to include 200 new housing lots, a sports field with clubhouse and a service centre with food outlets.

If residents would like to show their support for the project, they can contact their relevant Councillor at:
Mayor Andrew Wilcox: [email protected]
Cr Jan Clifford: [email protected]
Cr Al Grundy: [email protected]
Cr John Collins: [email protected]
Cr Michelle Wright: [email protected]
Cr Gary Simpson: [email protected]
Cr Mike Brunker: [email protected]

Residents can also attend the council meeting this Wednesday, 24 February 2021, at 9am in the Bowen Council Chambers (67 Herbert Street, Bowen).

For further information contact Adrian Lawson, Development Manager
[email protected]
Ph: 0468 309 163

22/10/2020

Developer awaits council decision.

The company behind the planned $1.1 billion Whitsunday Paradise project is anxiously awaiting a Whitsunday Shire Council decision this month.
After years of negotiations over the project, the council had asked for two extensions and received an extension to the approval process time to Wednesday, October 28. where the council will vote on the Development Approval.

GRW Group general manager Blake Thomas said the company was awaiting a decision so they could know the next step in the project’s life.
“We are keen to start getting underway and calling for tenders for $40 million worth of infrastructure upgrades for the Bowen region if the council gives up approval for the project,’’ said Mr Thomas.
“If the council provides the approval, we potentially give the Bowen region a fantastic Christmas present in the form of 84 jobs if we are able to start awarding contracts.
“The works would include improvements to the Bruce Highway and to Bowen’s water and sewerage system.”
Mr Thomas said the project would lead to the development of 2000 dwellings for up to 5000 people over the next 20 years. Thea masterplan includes a range of lot sizes to accommodate traditional houses, townhouses, units, commercial premises and potentially tourist accommodation.
The first stage of the project is planned to include 200 new housing lots, an AFL field with clubhouse and a service centre with food outlets.