Developer behind $20 million, four-storey hotel proposal says it will not be a FIFO camp
A local motel owner with plans to develop a $20 million, four-storey hotel has dismissed claims it will be used as a FIFO camp.
Owner of The View on Hannans, Rita Brooks, has put forward the proposal for a 200-person hotel on a 1.34ha site on Gatacre Drive, near Great Eastern Highway, with a workforce accommodation complex to the west and residential development on the opposite side of the street.
The proposal will be discussed at Monday night’s council meeting before being considered by the Regional Development Association Panel.
Ms Brooks said she bought the lot in 1996 — around the same time she built The View on Hannans — with dreams of opening a hotel in the area.
“We’ve had a lot of challenging times with negative impact in decreased projects lately, like low nickel prices that do impact the town significantly, and bringing in new development brings in new jobs and also a much-needed facility,” she said.
“It’s been a long time since a new hotel opened up … and there’s nothing in that area we are looking at.
“I think having a highway location and being close to the airport we will appeal to a lot of travellers.”
Two objections against the proposal were submitted to the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder voicing concerns over the potential for the hotel to be used as a FIFO camp, as well as traffic congestion and safety in the area.
Ms Brooks said her development was “absolutely not” a FIFO camp and predicted it would be of similar star-rating to the four-star motel she operates on Hannan Street.
“I just want it to be booked,” she said.
“I want it to be economically sound, and I want the project to survive.
“We hear a lot of business closures and that’s not through unsound economic management, it is because they don’t have customers.
“So making sure we can get customers is our first thing.
“In my motel at the moment, when people ring up for a booking, we provide accommodation.
“Workers, corporate business people, travellers, it doesn’t matter.”
The proposal — made by Planning Solutions on behalf of a company called Akudjura — would include an ancillary restaurant and function room, gym and 137 parking bays.
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