However, the Coolum Palmer Resort was effectively mothballed in 2015. It had faced a string of complaints including the dinosaur park Palmersaurus being only just metres away from some of the guesthouses, meaning guests could hear the incessant roaring of the animatronic creatures. Jeff the T-Rex had also gone up in flames. Once regarded as one of the area's most prestigious resorts, in 2017 the broadcaster ABC described the site as a "shadow of its former self".

From disused stadiums to deserted airports: billion dollar wastes of money

Mining billionaire Clive Palmer's businesses, politics and new Titanic