$100m Whyalla hotel to create 300 jobs, Thrive Construct says, with plans to be lodged early in the new year

Plans for a nine-storey complex on the Whyalla foreshore are expected to be lodged early in the new year. See the artist’s impressions.

An artist's impression of plans for a new $100m hotel and apartment building at Whyalla. Pictures: Supplied

The proponents of a $100m nine-storey hotel on the Whyalla waterfront hope to secure planning approval early in the new year to capitalise on more people exploring the regions.

Thrive Construct’s co-directors Barrie Harrop and Peter Villis are behind the development on the Whyalla Foreshore Motor Inn site.

Mr Harrop said about 15 buyers were “progressively paying deposits” on homes to be built in the complex, which will feature about 180 hotel suites and 49 apartments.

An artist's impression of plans for a new $100m hotel and apartment building at Whyalla. Pictures: Supplied

He expects the plans to be submitted to the State Planning Commission for consideration early in the new year, with construction starting around mid-2021 and taking less than a year.

“We know that if we get our timing right … we’ll be booked out for the foreseeable future,” Mr Harrop said.

“We’ve got 10 million Australians that went overseas every year and they’re not going overseas in the foreseeable future. There’s been a very strong focus on regional parts of Australia.”

An artist’s impression of the $100m hotel and apartment building at Whyalla. Pictures: Supplied

The project is also expected to include food and beverage outlets, conference facilities and a large saltwater lagoon.

Mr Harrop said it would create about 300 full-time jobs on completion.

“Our planned project will sit “cheek by jowl” with a 100-year-old botanical gardens on the seafront, overlooking the stunning new Whyalla jetty,” he said.

“A lot of people don’t realise that accommodation in Whyalla is hard to come by most of the year.

“It’s the launch pad for an outback experience so from a tourism perspective it’s very attractive, but there’s nowhere for people to stay.”

UK industrialist Sanjeev Gupta’s GFG Alliance is planning a major rejuvenation of the Whyalla steelworks, costing more than $1bn.

“If you look beyond GFG’s plans there's several billion dollars worth of renewable energy projects in that area,” Mr Harrop said. “That’s created a lot of confidence and the $100m high school is completely out of left field and will be an amazing educational facility for the area.”

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