A start date for a proposed $8.15 billion mega casino and resort in Cairns remains unclear, after the developer's plan to acquire the nearby Reef Casino fell through last month.
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Father and son duo Tony and Justin Fung had hoped to raise cash for the project by acquiring Reef and partially listing their development company on the Hong Kong stock exchange.
However the deal fell through last month, with Aquis running into trouble with Queensland's gaming probity approvals system.
Aquis has now turned to its back-up plan, a takeover of Casino Canberra.
Earlier this year, Tony Fung said he hoped to start building Australia's biggest casino in Cairns in 2016. However on Thursday, his son Justin was reluctant to echo that sentiment.
"In terms of dates we've given in the past it has been a movable feast. Right now we're most comfortable saying we'd like to get started as soon as possible," he told Fairfax Media.
"Unfortunately the probity process had a bit of a stumbling block in Queensland over the acquisition of Reef. But we have had discussions in Canberra and we're in the process of completing the acquisition of the Casino Canberra and we expect to have probity in the (Australian Capital) Territory by the end of the month."
Mr Fung said he was unable to say why he believed the Reef deal fell through because the probity process was confidential.
"At that time we were very confident it would go through and, unfortunately, we are where we are now," he said.
"Ultimately it doesn't affect our commitment to the Aquis project."
The Fungs will need to run through the probity process again in order to build the Aquis casino.
On Thursday, Queensland's Coordinator-General approved the environmental design of Aquis, a Macau-style casino and resort featuring 7500 hotel rooms, an aquarium, theatres, conference centres and a sporting precinct with an 18-hole golf course.
The approval came with conditions - Aquis will have to prioritise hiring and training locals, adopt best-practice environmental management plans, and limit noise during construction.
Most importantly for Aquis, the Coordinator-General found the project posed no "unacceptable risks" to the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area.
Aquis is yet to buy the 320-hectare site it hopes to build its resort on, however they have an option to make the purchase for another seven years.
They have already spent $30 million on design, and Fairfax Media understands Aquis could spend about $40 million to buy the land.
