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QUEENSLAND’S richest man Clive Palmer (pictured) has confirmed that he was never on ‘the list’ to buy the financially stricken Couran Cove Island Resort.
“I never wanted to buy it, I’ve never had any interest,” confirmed Palmer from Singapore.
Couran Cove is now in the hands of liquidator Ferrier Hodgson with an expression of interest deadline set for July 2.
When asked whether the island asset would complement his recent acquisition of the Hyatt Regency Coolum, Palmer said no.
“They are completely different properties. Reports suggesting that I was interested in Couran Cove are completely made up,” he says.
The billionaire boss of mining behemoth Mineralogy also scoffed at suggestions that he paid $25 million for Hyatt Regency Coolum earlier this week in a deal with Lend Lease and Japanese co-owner Sekisui House.
“That figure is just plain wrong,” says Palmer, who is not disclosing price, but did confirm that he paid in cash.
“We have big plans for the resort which we will roll out over the next few years. It’s a good resort, it’s ideally placed and finally this (State) Government is doing more to support tourism in the state.”
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