Local businessman’s push for five-star hotel, marina, apartments and restaurants near The Bluff at Victor Harbor
A VICTOR Harbor businessman has flagged plans for a five-star hotel, apartment and marina development near The Bluff — but is likely to face an uphill battle to get the project off the ground.
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A VICTOR Harbor businessman has flagged plans for a five-star hotel, apartment and marina development near The Bluff — but is likely to face an uphill battle to get the project off the ground.
Mark Taplin, who sits on Victor Harbor Council’s Economic Development and Tourism Committee, is pushing plans for a hotel and apartment complex over about seven storeys, a 150-berth marina, tavern, shops and restaurants.
He has presented rough concepts to Victor Harbor’s boating committee, but is still finalising designs for the project before seeking State Government support, which would be vital for it to go ahead.
Mr Taplin, the brother of Glenelg property mogul Andrew Taplin, says he’s enlisted the help of an engineer, architect and several property developers to prepare his vision, having already spent about $50,000 on developing the concept.
“This will be the catalyst for making Victor Harbor grow up,” Mr Taplin said.
“We’ve done nothing for 50 years — you can’t even moor a boat in Victor Harbor now.
“It’s quite an iconic place — anywhere else in Australia or the world, this place would have been developed with high-rise and I don’t want to go that way at all — it’s a very sensitive area and it should be developed in accordance with that.”
Mr Taplin said his plan, which would also need the backing of investors, would involve excavating land behind the Whalers Inn Resort at Encounter Bay and using the rock to build a breakwater for a new marina.
The hotel and apartments would be built on the land behind the Whalers Inn complex, and could include buildings over two stages — one about four stories high, with another about three or four storeys behind that, stretching up to a total of seven storeys.
“The Bluff would not be changed and there would be no development there at all,” Mr Taplin said.
Views of The Bluff would remain the same, the apartments would reach a similar height to the Whalers Inn, and there would also be no impact on the ocean floor, he said.
He estimated the whole project could cost around $220 million.
Mr Taplin, who has multiple sclerosis, retired late last year, and is now working on a subdivision to create 10 blocks in the township.
He has met with Finniss MP David Basham (Liberal) about the plans, and hoped to officially present updated concepts to the State Government in the coming months.
“(But) The whole thing hinges on government because it’s crown land. If the government turns around and says we can’t do anything, I’ll just cop it and walk away,” Mr Taplin said.
Victor Harbor Mayor Graham Philp said councillors were yet to form a position on the project, which he labelled “just an idea that has come from our community”.
He flagged potential problems around cultural sensitivity, and environmental issues.
“The Bluff is noted to be very high-profile to our indigenous community so there’s huge issues that need to be addressed, and (the) council hasn’t decided one way or another to go through with it,” Mr Philp said.
“This crown land is highly regarded by the Ngarrindjeri people.
“This is probably a 20-year plan if it gets started, but I can’t see it getting started.”
Mr Basham said a marina was needed somewhere on the coast between Victor Harbor and Goolwa, but was reluctant to comment on the merits Mr Taplin’s proposal without more detail.
“Finding somewhere for upper-end hotel accommodation looking over the beautiful views of the coast — it’s a challenge,” Mr Basham said.
Mr Basham said Mr Taplin’s idea needed thorough investigation “before you can rule it in or out”.
“I think it’s very much about getting these ideas to the table that might bring other ideas to the fore, whether this be right or not.”
What do you think of the proposal? Does Victor Harbor need a five-star hotel and marina? Leave your comment below.