We take our responsibility to the natural environment very seriously. The Whitsunday Skyway is located within Conway National Park, and the project is subject to rigorous environmental approvals at both the Federal and State level before any construction can begin. A gondola cable car is one of the most environmentally sensitive ways to access elevated terrain, with a minimal physical footprint compared to roads or car parks. Our goal is to connect visitors with the beauty of the Whitsundays in a way that deepens their appreciation for it, and inspires them to protect it.

The project has recently been declared a Prescribed Project, managed by the Office of the Coordinator-General.

As the project is transitioning from the Queensland Government's Exclusive Transactions Framework, under which a Process Deed was signed with the State. This deed outlined specific conditions that AATG must satisfy prior to tenure being granted. These conditions continue to apply under the Prescribed Project pathway.

The grant of tenure remains subject to:

• Meeting all statutory requirements

• Obtaining necessary State and Federal environmental approvals

• Securing development approvals

• Submission and State approval of the detailed proposal

Whitsunday Skyway — Project Update as of October 2026

We're pleased to share the latest progress on the Whitsunday Skyway project as we continue working through the key steps required to bring this vision for the region closer to reality.

Stakeholder Negotiations Underway

The project team is currently in active negotiations with major stakeholders on the key commercial principles for the project. This work is progressing alongside several important approval and agreement processes:

• Native Title Agreements — including the Indigenous Land Use Agreement (ILUA), Cultural Heritage Management Agreement (CHMA) and ancillary agreements with the Gia and Ngaro Peoples (target resolution: Q1 2027)

• Commonwealth Environmental Approvals — currently progressing via a Public Environment Report (PER) with an associated project variation (target resolution: Q1 2027)

• Project Financing — engagement with the Northern Australia Infrastructure Fund (NAIF) as a potential financing partner (target resolution: first half of 2027)

Rescoping the Project

Given current construction market conditions, the project is being carefully rescoped to balance capital cost with the operational performance and international-standard visitor experience the region deserves. This includes the process of selecting the preferred attractions for the Whitsunday visitor demographic and the likely staging of the attractions.

As part of this process, we're working with a number of reputable Queensland and regional builders capable of delivering a project of this scale and technical complexity, through an Early Contractor Involvement (ECI) process to help secure the best possible delivery outcome for the project and greater cost certainty.

Once capital cost estimates are sufficiently refined, detailed design and engineering will progress in support of the preliminary and development approval processes typical for a tourism project of this nature, including graphic renders to allow the community to visualise the finished product.

Alignment and Site Planning

As shown in the attached site map, a cableway alignment has been identified with the aim of achieving the best outcomes for traffic flow, parking, pedestrian movement and access from the main street — consistent with the Airlie Beach Master Plan.

This proposed alignment remains subject to a number of required impact studies, including visual and noise impact assessments, with engineering design solutions to follow that aim to deliver good outcomes for all stakeholders, including neighbouring residents, while supporting a high-quality visitor experience.

What's Next

It's important the community understands where this project currently sits: the site map and alignment shown reflect work to date, but formal assessment processes are yet to be undertaken, and formal community engagement has not yet commenced. Both are essential steps in the project's development, and we will provide further updates as these processes are scheduled and get underway.

We look forward to keeping the community informed as the Whitsunday Skyway project progresses.

We are proud to be working alongside the Gia and Ngaro People and the North Queensland Land Council to ensure that First Nations culture and heritage are respected and celebrated throughout this project. We have entered into a negotiation protocol together and have had a number of productive meetings, including a site visit in November 2023. Ongoing conversations around native title approvals and cultural heritage management are central to how we are developing the Whitsunday Skyway, and we look forward to sharing more about the cultural experiences that will form part of the Skyway's offering in due course.

It really is. The Skyway has been designed with all ages and abilities in mind. There's something for every member of the family, from little adventurers to grandparents taking in the view. The gondola cable car itself is a smooth, comfortable ride suitable for all ages.

Absolutely. One of the most wonderful things about a gondola cable car is that it brings the summit within reach of everyone, regardless of age or physical ability. The Whitsunday Skyway has been designed with accessibility in mind, so that visitors who might not be able to hike to the top can still enjoy the breathtaking views over the Whitsunday Islands. Full accessibility details will be confirmed as part of our final approvals process.