CHINESE investors White Horse (Australia) Holdings Pty Ltd have announced bold new plans for Lindeman Island.

The group bought the island for $12 million in 2012, planning a $200m revamp.

This week, White Horse Australia chief executive officer Paul Nyholt said the company planned to spend much more than that to develop three high-end resorts.

"The total spend will be in excess of $500m," he said.

"The old resort is going to be demolished and we're going to build one new beachfront resort in that location and two smaller boutique resorts in other locations on the island."

Mr Nyholt said different marketing plans had been explored, with the company ultimately settling on targeting the high end.

"Tourism's a very competitive market, so we've been very careful with how we've planned what we're going to be doing on the island," he said.

"We're looking at a minimum of five star for the beachfront resort and the two other resorts will be a notch above that."

A safe harbour/small marina and village centre were also planned, he said.

The finished product would contain about 220 resort rooms plus tourist villas.

Mr Nyholt said the appropriate submissions had now been made to the Federal and State governments, with approvals the next step.

After this, the company must undertake an Environmental Impact Statement process, expected to take at least 18 months.

Mr Nyholt said White Horse was taking the EIS very seriously.

He said the company would start work on the developments as soon as approvals were in place.

"We've got a shortlist of about six hotel operators and brands and they will certainly be groups that are recognised internationally."

More information can be found on the Department of Environment website.