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According to an absolutely amazing and unbelievable report in the Sunshine Coast News, highly controversial billionaire Clive Palmer has revealed a $100 million plan to refurbish his Coolum Resort, complete with replicas of the Wonders of the World and famous landmarks.

I can feel you yawning as you hear another crazy Palmer plan, but to hear how crazy, read on!

The report says that Palmer, who has long been criticised for letting the former Hyatt Coolum fall from grace into a ruin as pictured, amazingly says he wants to re-establish the property’s position as the jewel in the Sunshine Coast tourism crown, especially since he was responsible for its sad demise.

The report says however In true Clive style, this won’t be your usual renovation rescue, as he wants the Palmer Coolum Resort redevelopment to include replicas of the Wonders of the World and famous landmarks, including a full-size Trevi Fountain.

It is also understood they will be imported from overseas and scattered around the property so visitors can sit and marvel at them.

The Seven Wonders of the World list was updated in 2007 to include the Great Wall of China, Chichén Itzá (a Mayan city in Mexico), the ancient city of Petra in Jordon, Machu Picchu, Christ the Redeemer statue in Brazil, the Colosseum and the Taj Mahal. Previous to that the list had not been changed since the second century BCE and only one monument was still standing – the pyramids of Giza.

Palmer also says that more than 300 premium studio, two and three-bedroom apartments would be completely refurbished in the upgrade, which would also feature seven restaurants and the complete renovation of the Village Square, with the doors thrown open to the public again, but it is unclear whether Palmer will use one of his own entities to manage the property, or engage a specialist and I am sure many pray that if this comes close to fruition, the latter, but it is considered it will be a challenge to find an operator that will work with Palmer!

Palmer says 100 tradespeople and construction staff were already on site, with a further 100 expected to be employed on the project by June, ahead of an anticipated opening of stage one in the second half of 2022.

At the heart of the revitalised Palmer Coolum Resort Palmer says would be the world-class Robert Trent Jones Jnr-designed golf course, the former home of 11 Australian PGA Championships, prior to Palmer and his dinosaurs losing it for the Sunshine Coast, with Palmer saying, rather unbelievably, “The resort will be returned to beyond its former glory, stimulating jobs and economic growth for the region,’’ Mr Palmer said.

Palmer even more incredulously said that as the former Federal Member for Fairfax, which he lost spectacularly, he had a duty of care to the people of the Sunshine Coast, adding, “The Sunshine Coast has suffered due to the massive turndown in tourism over the past 12 months and will face further economic hardships once the JobKeeper program finishes’   [This is the man that allowed what was arguably the most popular conference resort in Australia with over 600 jobs and reportedly full occupancy all year to close and slide into becoming a ruin as it is today!]

He added, “This project will provide much-needed economic stimulus during construction and into the future as a major visitor drawcard for the region” and “I would like to see the Queensland Premier to follow suit and step up her investment in the Queensland tourism sector”, which suggest, not at all surprisingly that he is looking for state government money and also possibly and even more incredulously, investors saying, ““I am also calling on others who have been fortunate in business to do what they can to get Queensland moving again.’’

I am as stunned as the dinosaurs he installed on the golf course which helped lose the Sunshine Coast the Australian PGA!

Are you as stunned as I am?

o you believe Palmer will deliver what he is promising?

Let us know by adding your comments below.

A report by John Alwyn-Jones