Hotel changes to start soon

THE face of the Emerald CBD is set for further changes, with work to get underway on the Leichhardt Hotel.

Picture: ©iStockphoto.com/alexsl

THE face of the Emerald CBD is set for further changes, with work to get underway on the Leichhardt Hotel.

The original establishment closed down in late 2007, and Andrew Leach from Rockhampton-based Pat O'Driscoll Real Estate said, depending on pre-sales, the site would soon be a flurry of activity.

“Building will start fairly well straight away,” Mr Leach reported.

“(The new building) could be admitting guests by the end of 2010.”

Central Queensland News first reported on plans to redevelop the site back in July 2007.

At the time Emerald Shire Council had approved plans to build a twin five-storey complex featuring 32 units, an upmarket cafe and a luxury wine bar.

Mr Leach said the plans had since been modified to feature 25 apartments; a mixture of 20 dual-keys, four two-bedroom apartments and one three-bedroom unit, priced between $460,000 and $525,000.

“We're quite excited about it,” Mr Leach said.

“I think it'll go quite well as they're in an ideal position.”

The redesign process has been the main cause of the delays, according to Leichhardt Hotel general manager Rowan Toomey.

“We went back to the drawing board,” Mr Toomey said.

“The concept was to make (the development) smaller - something which fits in with the surrounding area.

“The process has gone back to council to get the amendments approved.”

Mr Toomey hopes the project will get underway sooner rather than later.

“We hope by the end of the year we'll be well and truly into it,” he said.

The projected time frame for completion is 2010, Mr Leach confirmed.

Mr Toomey believes the end result will be great for the town.

“We're extremely enthusiastic,” he said.

Originally published as Hotel changes to start soon