Green light for Andrew Forrest's $70m Ningaloo Reef resort

Mining magnate Andrew Forrest’s ambitious vision for a luxury eco-resort at Ningaloo Reef has cleared its final regulatory hurdle, with the Western Australian Government granting the $70 million project the green light after a decade of planning and environmental scrutiny. The development, situated at Exmouth’s Lighthouse Bay, marks a significant shift in the region’s high-end tourism landscape and represents one of the most substantial private investments in the Gascoyne region to date.

Under the banner of Forrest’s private investment arm, Tattarang, the resort aims to deliver a low-impact, sustainable experience on the fringes of the World Heritage-listed reef. While the project faced rigorous assessments regarding its footprint on the fragile coastline and indigenous heritage, proponents argue it will set a new global benchmark for eco-conscious luxury while boosting the local economy through significant job creation and international prestige.

“This approval signals a watershed moment for Western Australia, where the tension between high-stakes commercial investment and the non-negotiable preservation of our natural heritage finds an uneasy, yet necessary, equilibrium.”

Construction is expected to commence shortly, bringing an end to the protracted approvals process that has spanned multiple state administrations. As the project moves from the drawing board to the dunes, the focus now shifts to the operational integrity of the resort and its ability to coexist with one of the planet’s most delicate and pristine marine ecosystems.