Ships moored off Hay Point waiting to be loaded with coal. Opinion Contributed Premium Content High-Rise on Airlie Foreshore â No Way The Whitsunday Regional Council is considering an application for a foreshore high-rise development at the Port of Airlie, as high as 12 stories or more. Our community has seen high-rise development proposals before and we have stood up and loudly shouted down these proposals. So why does the council continue to entertain high-rise applications? Why is the council not backing the community and its own town plan? High-rise developments in the Whitsundays are shouted down for many good reasons. The Whitsundays is one of the most popular tourism destinations in Australia.