GHD played a key role in the stunning transformation of Queensland’s Daydream Island resort in Queensland, Australia, providing awide range of services.
Working with the resort owner, China Capital Investment Group, GHD provided services from project inception, right through to final resort handover. This included design, engineering, project management, construction superintendency and contract administration.
Robby Chohan, Technical Director — Structures / Property & Buildings, GHD and project manager for the redevelopment, says the transformation incorporated all accommodation wings, the central guest facilities, arrivals building, multiple restaurants, buildings and various other front-of-house facilities and features.
Key features were the installation of an underwater observatory, living reef and on-land lagoon which is the only of its kind in Australia.
The living reef coral lagoon wraps around the central resort building, and is home to more than 100 different kinds of aquatic creatures which can be seen from this observatory.
The on-land living reef draws seawater directly from the ocean and circulates it into the lagoon without treatment. The water flows naturally and via water management systems around the lagoon and then flows out to the ocean, again without treatment or filtration, discharging directly into the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.
"Essentially, we have created a land based extension to the Great Barrier Reef offering a unique snorkelling experience, underwater observatory, reef education centre and underwater function facility," Robby says.