Branson develops Makepeace Island at Noosa

Sir  Richard Branson is  pressing ahead with  the construction of  a luxury Australian island retreat for his Virgin airline staff despite  remaining opposition from environmentalists.   Plans for the $4 million nine-hectare estate at Noosa, on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, have already been scaled back so that there won’t be a country club or helipad as originally sought, but concerns remain about the felling of trees required for the development. Branson  bought the heart-shaped  Makepeace Island in the middle of the Noosa River for $2.86 million in May 2003 and now owns it in partnership with Virgin Blue Airlines managing director Brett Godfrey. The idea was to turn it into a Balinese-style retreat for the owners’ families and for use by Virgin staff. In style, it mimics Necker Island, Sir Richard’s private Caribbean island.