Vegas firm promises world's largest cultivated coral reef
Sun Nov 26, 1:56 PM ET
SINGAPORE (AFP) - Las Vegas firm Eighth Wonder said the world's first cultivated coral reef will be among the attractions at a major new Singapore gaming resort if it wins the bidding for the project.
The reef is part of Eighth Wonder's ambitious plans for its resort, Harry's Island, and will be helmed by Philippe Cousteau, the grandson of the late ocean explorer Jacques-Yves Cousteau.
"Nothing's been done on this scale before," said Cousteau at a press conference.
Rival bidder Kerzner International has already said its project would feature the world's biggest man-made coral reef as well as habitats for live fish and robotic sea creatures.
Kerzner has teamed up with Singapore's CapitaLand to bid for Singapore's second gaming resort, on Sentosa island.
The third bidder is the Genting International-Star Cruises team, part of Malaysian casino operator Genting Group.
Eighth Wonder's chairman and chief executive Mark Advent said: "I wanted Harry's Island to be eco-friendly, environmentally-friendly and sustainable for generations to come."
A series of interlinked translucent tunnels will be built to enable visitors at the resort to visit the coral reef, which will measure an estimated 30 metres in length and tapers to a depth of 10-15 metres, the Las Vegas firm said.
Eighth Wonder is teaming up with Australia's Publishing and Broadcasting Ltd and Hong Kong's Melco International Development Ltd, who operate together in the Chinese gambling enclave of Macau, as well as Isle of Capri Casinos Inc. to bid for the project.
They are to invest 5.5 billion Singapore dollars (3.5 billion US) to build Harry's Island if their bid gets the nod from the government. A decision is expected in early December.
The proposed resort would offer over 2,100 hotel rooms and a 7,500-seat underwater theatre with a 10-storey high waterfall.
Singapore's first casino licence was awarded to Las Vegas Sands, which also has operations in Macau, in May.
Sands says it will invest more than five billion dollars in the Marina Bay project to open in 2009.
The city-state last year lifted a ban on casino gambling and announced plans for two casino resorts in a bid to boost its tourist appeal.
