A landmark $180-million five-star hotel and dining destination is to rise north of Brisbane with the City of Moreton Bay awarding the development tender to homegrown developer and hospitality clan the Comiskeys.
The proposal—designed by Bureau Proberts, the architects behind Brisbane’s West Village — has been pitched as a “mini-James Street”, referencing Fortitude Valley’s upscale Calile Hotel and surrounds.
It will feature a 130-room luxury resort, high-end restaurants, boutique retail, event spaces for up to 800 guests and a lagoon-style pool on a 1.72ha site at North Lakes.
Mayor Peter Flannery said the project, about 40km north of the Brisbane CBD, was a defining step towards positioning the region as an “event city” in the lead-up to the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
“We put the call out in August last year for an iconic proposal that would elevate City of Moreton Bay on the tourism map,” he said.
“Comiskey Group’s vision ticks every box with a world-class design, quality dining, genuine community benefit and serious economic horsepower as we head into 2032.”
According to council estimates, the project is expected to inject $538 million into the local economy and support more than 880 jobs during construction and the first five years of operation.
The development will also provide a much-needed accommodation boost for the region’s $50-million major events sector. It is expected to capture demand from business tourism, training camps and global sporting events —including the 2027 WBSC Women’s Softball World Cup Finals in neighbouring Redcliffe.
Comiskey Group director Rob Comiskey said the precinct would deliver a destination “locals will love and visitors will travel for”.
“The resort will blend luxury accommodation with premium food, boutique retail, generous green spaces and event experiences,” he said.
“The council has been serious about attracting investment and positioning City of Moreton Bay as a leading tourism destination. Their professional, investment-ready approach gives us great confidence in the future.”
The North Lakes project will be rolled out in two stages. Stage 1 includes the 130-room resort and signature Comiskey hospitality venue. Stage 2 will expand the retail and dining village alongside complementary experiences.
Detailed design and approvals are expected to progress this year, with construction slated to start in 2026.
In August, the Comiskey Group filed plans for a $250-million expansion of its Sandstone Point hotel and holiday resort holding fronting the Pumicestone Passage, opposite Bribie Island—about 70km north of Brisbane and also in the Moreton Bay region.
The proposal is the area’s first greenfield five-star hotel, and comprises 202 one, two and three-bedroom suites across two 10-storey midrise towers.
The masterplan also includes a retail and entertainment precinct as well as a large infinity pool, an adults-only pool with a swim-up bar that will host DJ sets, wellness centre and function spaces, and enhanced concert facilities, expanded basement parking and a dedicated bus terminal.
The Comiskeys also have recently started construction on the $50-million Country Club Hotel on a 5ha site at Strathpine on Brisbane’s northside, and, after gaining the green light in December, works are also under way on the Sunshine Coast’s “largest hotel and music venue” the $45-million Aura Hotel.
