A world-first wave pool in regional Queensland is one step closer to becoming the state’s next surfing mecca.

The next big break for the central Queensland site is expansion into a tourism hotspot with the company’s development application, including glamping sites and restaurants, this week approved by Livingstone Council.

It is a surreal achievement for Surf Lakes founder and chief executive Aaron Trevis, who grew up in Yeppoon and learnt to surf at Farnborough Beach.

“I’m really thrilled,” he said.

“It’s great to have that started in my hometown.

“I’m currently over in the US talking to licensees over here and it’s quite satisfying that we launched it in Yeppoon and we’re taking Aussie waves to the world.”

Mr Trevis expects between 100,000 and 300,000 visitors annually to the tourist park once it is up and running, which would make it one of the biggest tourism attractions in central Queensland.

Key points:

• Council has approved stage one of the Surf Lakes tourism development
• Work can start on transforming the prototype wave machine so it can open to the public
• The site is set to be a tourism drawcard, bringing hundreds of thousands of people once operational

Source
Michelle Gately
ABC News