New hotel planned for McLaren Vale

The McLaren Vale Shopping Centre could soon also boast a new three-storey hotel.

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Plans have been lodged for a new hotel in the heart of McLaren Vale, right behind the shopping centre.

The application, lodged with Onkaparinga Council, covers a three-storey hotel at 130 Main Rd directly behind the McLaren Vale Central Shopping Centre, in the carpark.

Plans include 82 rooms, a restaurant and carparking.

The centre is already home to Coles, BWS and Romeo’s Foodland, cafes, a bakery and trakeaway and retail shops with more than 500 car parks.

It is understood the hotel will be built on some of the carpark, but that the new building includes more carparks.​

McLaren Vale is renowned for its wineries, attracting visitors from all over the world.

It is also home to popular festivals including Sea and Vines over the June long-weekend, the McLaren Vale Vintage and Classic car show and the Tour Down Under, all of which attract thousands of people to the town.

Anni Rhodes, Jenni Mitton and Sandy Mount on Main Rd, McLaren Vale, getting in a festive mood ahead of last January’s Tour Down Under. Picture: AAP/Keryn Stevens.

A new hotel has been high on the wish list for the McLaren Vale Business and Tourism Association.

Association president Sandy Mount said tourists being able to stay overnight in the centre of town was key to boosting local business.

“The major factor with tourism in McLaren Vale is that we are close enough to the CBD of Adelaide to attract visitors on a daily basis but with the lack of modern, quality accommodation those visitors return to Adelaide at the end of the day,” Mr Mount said.

“The location of this proposed hotel in the centre of town is excellent — it will draw visitors into the town and if tourists have the opportunity to stay overnight in the township in quality accommodation it will be excellent for the business community.

Visitors to the Festival for Modern Ageing ZestFest 2018 were attracted to The Cube at d'Arenberg Winery, McLaren Vale. Picture: Supplied

“As an Association our focus is to draw visitors into the township, to get out of their cars, walk the main street and shop in our town — this proposed hotel would do exactly that.”

MRS Property director Paul Scarborough, who manages the McLaren Vale Central Shopping Centre, said the shopping centre’s owner declined to comment at this stage.