A WALL, three flag posts and two sets of lights are the only changes that have occurred at the Waterson Way site since Whitsunday Chinatown Investment Pty Ltd signed a contract with Whitsunday Regional Council in December last year for the $2.5 million purchase of the land.

While a $250,000 deposit was paid to council as part of the contract in December last year, the remaining $2.25 million is yet to be paid and a development application has not been submitted. The submission of a development application would trigger the settlement of the contract.

Last year, Whitsunday Regional Council mayor Jennifer Whitney said the council expected Whitsunday Chinatown Investment Pty Ltd to start work at the Waterson Way block at the end of January or beginning of February this year, subject to development approval.

At the July 22 council meeting, councillors received correspondence from Whitsunday Chinatown Investment Pty Ltd's solicitors making three offers "outside of the current contractual agreement".

The council moved a motion thanking the company for its offers and authorised the chief executive officer and chief financial officer to "advise Whitsunday Chinatown Investments to lodge a development application under the current contract at the earliest possible opportunity to affect the sale of 45-71 Waterson Way".

President of the China Australia Entrepreneurs Association Inc Mark Beale said Whitsunday Chinatown Investments were currently looking at engaging a new design team to move forward with the project.

Whitsunday Surveys is still engaged as project managers of the Chinatown proposal and said they were working with Whitsunday China Town Investments to lodge a development application as soon as possible.