Lang Walker is taking his love of lame Beach Boy songs to a whole new level with the opening of the Kokomo Island Resort in Fiji.
Apparently he stumbled across the place while sailing around in his yacht, also named Kokomo.
Yes, I know, he has at least four gin palaces called Kokomo – including the one usually parked at Sydney's Woolloomooloo wharf in case he has to pop out for some milk – but who could possibly remember which one it was.
And that does not include Lang's many sailing boats, also called Kokomo.
Lang has spent three years, and a bucket of money, building a high-end resort in Fiji's Kadavu Group and the resort has officially announced its "soft" opening ahead of the "hard" opening in March next year.
"Kokomo Island is pure escapism. From the spectacular scenery to the pristine ocean, this is where absolute paradise reigns supreme," promises the website.
Unless you want to the wrong website and got Kokomo the super yacht instead.
Lang likes it so much he has also built his own private residence on the island – away from those pesky guests we hope.
"This is a passion project for my family and Kokomo Island embodies my main interests, relaxing on the water's edge and enjoying myriad activities on the water," said Lang, who was so excited by the project he forgot to mention his main passion: Making a killing in commercial real estate.
Lang pulled the pin on the $2.5 billion sale of Melbourne's Collins Square project after he managed to find the $2 billion he needed to fund another development in Sydney's Parramatta without having to cash in his Docklands digs.
Business cycle
Lycra will replace suits today in Sydney's property world when 324 hardy types take part in the annual PIF Tour de Force from Bobbin Head Water Station, up to the Central Coast.
Those who opt for the 116-kilometre-long course will end up at the Church Point Ferry.
Melbourne property types get their turn in November.
The aim is to raise $230,000 for the PIF charities and already $178,310 has been pledged.
The MAMILS (middle aged men in lycra) taking part include Frasers Australand's Rod Fehring, Centuria's Nick Collishaw and Dexus boss Darren Steinberg.
You could forgive David Southon for setting a more leisurely pace than the others, he is still on gardening leave after leaving Charter Hall, but Southon has actually outshone his rivals and raised $8590 so far.
And how could we not mention that CBD's predecessor, and now GPT-staffer, Scott Rochfort, will be giving the lycra a stretch.
Fit to print
And wasn't it great to see competition czar, Rod Sims, declare newspapers a dead zone on Thursday as he waved his magic wand over Kerry Stokes' Seven West media acquiring Rupert Murdoch's Perth paper The Sunday Times.
"On the consumer side, the large decline in print newspaper readership formed a major part of our analysis," said the ACCC chairman.
"Advertising expenditure in print newspapers in Perth is in steep decline. Most of the advertisers we spoke to after publishing the Statement of Issues are spending less on print newspapers than a few years ago and are finding alternative ways of reaching target audiences, including via digital media," Sims said.
It means that Stokes, who owns Channel Seven, now controls most of the newspaper market in Western Australia.
The interesting titbit for trivia buffs came from Seven West boss Tim Worner, who said the company is "mindful that it was Rupert Murdoch's second acquisition and dear to his heart".
The news did not do much for the Seven West Media share price, which is tracking back towards a record low, but it did not dampen Worner's enthusiasm: "For us, this is a once in a company lifetime opportunity and that is the way we are going to approach it."
Got a tip? ckruger@fairfaxmedia.com.au
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