Mining billionaire Andrew Forrest has received final planning approval for a revised luxury resort project on Western Australia’s Ningaloo coast, marking a significant step forward for a development that has faced environmental, cultural, and infrastructure scrutiny for nearly a decade.
The Western Australian Planning Commission unanimously approved the updated Ningaloo Lighthouse Resort proposal this week with minor amendments, clearing the final major regulatory hurdle for the project near Exmouth, approximately 1,230 kilometers north of Perth.
The development is backed by Z1Z Resorts, the accommodation division of Tattarang, the private investment group owned by Andrew and Nicola Forrest.
The site, formerly a caravan park adjacent to the World Heritage-listed Ningaloo Reef, was acquired in 2017 with plans to transform it into a large-scale eco-tourism destination. An earlier proposal for an $85 million resort capable of hosting about 550 guests was later withdrawn while awaiting environmental and Aboriginal cultural heritage approvals.
The original concept also encountered setbacks linked to proposed beach access works. Efforts to create unrestricted access were abandoned after Western Australia’s Main Roads authority raised concerns that the works could impact a significant Aboriginal heritage area at Vlamingh Head.
A revised proposal submitted earlier this year reduced the development’s footprint and investment value by approximately $15 million and cut planned guest capacity by roughly 400 people. Current plans include converting the heritage-listed Vlamingh Head lighthouse keepers’ quarters into a reception facility, alongside the construction of villas, a restaurant, and spa amenities.
A spokesperson for the project said the company was reviewing the conditions attached to the approval and intended to continue engaging with the local community. “We look forward to working with the community as the project progresses,” the spokesperson said.
Environmental concerns have remained central to the project since it first entered the approvals process. In 2023, then-Western Australia Environment Minister Reece Whitby approved the broader resort concept subject to strict environmental protections.
Recommendations from the Environmental Protection Authority included lighting controls designed to reduce impacts on nesting sea turtles and shorebirds along the Ningaloo coastline.
The updated resort proposal is not expected to undergo another EPA assessment because the revised plan decreases the scale of the original development.
However, the project still involves clearing nearly four hectares of native vegetation within the 45-hectare site and remains located within the registered Aboriginal heritage area known as Vlamingh Head, which has longstanding ceremonial and spiritual significance for Traditional Owners.
In documents submitted to the planning commission, Z1Z Resorts said it had secured approval under Section 18 of the Aboriginal Heritage Act 1972 and was continuing consultation with Traditional Owners.
Paul Gamblin, chief executive of the Australian Marine Conservation Society, previously opposed the development but said the revised project represented progress.
“If the current proposal stays within the existing footprint … but then also adopts contemporary energy and water efficient processes, and they should be absolutely world leading for an area like this, then that would be the appropriate approach,” Mr. Gamblin said.
Water infrastructure remains a key issue for Exmouth and surrounding tourism operators. The resort intends to source potable water through groundwater bores and recycle wastewater for irrigation, prompting concerns about pressure on local aquifers and subterranean ecosystems. Exmouth Chamber of Commerce president David Gillespie noted that the region’s infrastructure is already under strain as the local drinking water system approaches capacity.
The state-owned Water Corporation announced in 2025 that a seawater desalination plant for Exmouth is expected to be operational by 2030.
“They’ve certainly got challenges around the infrastructure domain,” Mr. Gillespie said.
“It’s just a matter of just how much money you throw at it to make it work.”
Mr. Gillespie added that additional accommodation capacity could help Exmouth recover from the impacts of ex-Tropical Cyclone Narelle, which struck the region in March and damaged homes, businesses, and one of the town’s largest resorts.
“Less beds is putting more stress on the other accommodators (sic) to accommodate everybody at this point in time,” Mr. Gillespie said.
“Exmouth itself is going to take at least 18 months to two years just to get back to some normality.”
For operators in the outdoor hospitality and eco-tourism sectors, the Ningaloo Lighthouse Resort project highlights the growing importance of balancing tourism expansion with environmental stewardship, water security planning, and engagement with Traditional Owners. The lengthy approvals process also reflects increasing regulatory scrutiny for developments located near environmentally sensitive destinations and culturally significant sites.“Once it’s built and it’s open for business, it doesn’t matter who owns it, it will be a great asset to Exmouth,” Mr. Gillespie told ABC.