Mercure Kooindah Waters is investing almost $90M to build Wyong’s first high-rise hotel tower to attract tourism to the region at a world-class standard.
Plans include alterations and additions to the existing hotel, serviced apartments and golf club along with construction of a 24-storey tower comprising 97 serviced apartments, 98 residential units, restaurant, bar, conference centre and additional parking.
Commercial and tourist enterprises already on the site will be upgraded and expanded to a level to compete with larger venues in the Newcastle, Wollongong and Sydney region for events and conferences.
Analysis undertaken in the Statement of Environment Effects (SEE) established that this development is the right mix of uses and building form in the right place, with limited and acceptable environmental impacts and positive economic and social outcomes.
The SEE says that the development would provide 196 jobs in construction and 102 new jobs when complete.
It is an opportunity to capture the high-value Sydney corporate, domestic and international tourism market, attracting an additional 46,451 overnight visitors generating an estimated $6.46M per year to the economy, the SEE says.
This is the final stage of the 2002 Master Plan for a fully integrated resort and residential community with a variety of bars and restaurants, with the hotel tower as its significant, iconic attraction.
It says in the SEE that the landmark tower has a small building footprint relative to its density, being 24-storeys and 86.5m high.
Facades of the building are modulated with balconies and windows, and the curvature form assists to soften its bulk and scale.
There will be an additional 253 car parking spaces, some in basement parking, taking the total for the whole development to 463.
It is also proposed to open a more direct walking/cycling route to Wyong rail station and commercial area via Warners Ave, which will shorten the distance to 1.4km.
The resort at 50 Parry Pde and 40 Kooindah Boulevarde already comprises Kooindah Waters Golf Club, Mercure Kooindah Waters Hotel and serviced apartments as well as 252 private homes.
There are 20 hotel suites, 44 apartments for short-stay guests, an 18-hole golf course with pro shop and clubhouse, restaurant, bar, function rooms, a health club, tennis courts and swimming pool.
The regionally significant development proposal will go to the Hunter and Central Coast Regional Planning Panel for consideration, as its capital value is more than $30M, and the development application (1750/2022) can be viewed on Central Coast Council’s website.
Sue Murray
This land is part of the flood plain for Wyong River. The original development has already negatively impacted on the wetlands and water run off in this area. This extension will further distort the natural water drainage further effecting the local flood plain.
What a disgraceful proposal. The council should be ashamed if this development is approved