Floating Hotel?

So I was reading and article on the top 10 floating hotels and I came across one that they are planning for the GBR.

Apparently the hotel is set to open in 2010 and is supposed to be eco-friendly and backed 100% by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.

Now is just me or does this seem a little off, since we are trying to preserve the reef for as long as possible. I'm sure some locals are having the same thoughts I am...

A Floating Hotel in Townsville

Don't We Want to Save This?

Now where am I going to sleep?-Townsville Edition

Now since I talked about flying into Townsville too I thought it would be only fair that I look into cheap places to stay there as well. Now when I looked into hostels there only seem to be two:

Globetrotters
121 Flinders Street Townsville, 4810
Average Room Rate USD$18.46 per person, per night
*Has free breakfast and free dinner

Adventurers Backpackers
79 Palmer St, Townsville
Average Private Room Rate USD$19.58 per person, per night
Average Dormitory Room Rate USD$17.04 per person, per night

Hotels seem to be a little cheaper in Townsville than they are in Cairns. The prices on the cheaper side seem to range from about USD$70-90. A couple I found were:

Best Western Castle Lodge Motel
Corner Warburton, Mckinley & Rose Streets Townsville
Average Room Rate USD$69.43

Hotel Ibis Townsville
12 14 Palmer Street, Townsville
Average Room Rate USD$87.76

Jupiters Townsville Hotel and Casino
Sir Leslie Thiess Drive, Townsville
Average Room Rate USD$87.76

Pictured Jupiters Townsville Hotel and Casino

Now where am I going to sleep?-Cairns Edition

So you paid for a plane ticket to Australia...I would think the next logical step is a cheap place to stay. I will try and focus on hostels and cheap hotels.

First in Cairns I was able to find hostels from around USD$10-20 per night for dormitory sleeping (USD$15-25 for private rooms) Some with great reviews include:

JJ's Backpackers
11-13 Charles Street, Qld 4870, Cairns
Average Private Room USD$19.11 per person, per night
Average Shared Dormitory USD$16.99 per person, per night

Dreamtime Travellers Rest
4 Terminus Street, 4870, Cairns
Average Private Room USD$22.65 per person, per night
Average Shared Dormitory USD$17.70 per person, per night

Caravella Backpackers Cairns City Waterfront
149 The Esplanade or, Cairns
Average Private Room USD$26.55 per person, per night
Average Shared Dormitory USD$15.57 per person, per night

Now hotels are more expensive, but you are not paying per person and may have more amenities. These cheaper hotels average about USD$75-100 per night and include:

Comfort Inn Tropical Queenslander
287 Lake Street Cairns

Average Room Rate USD$74.84 per night

Mercure Cairns Harborside
209 217 the Esplanade Cairns
Average Room Rate USD$78.24 per night

Holiday Inn Cairns
121-123 the Esplanade, Cairns
Average Room Rate USD$89.40 per night