Everything you need to know about Urangan’s new $60 million hotel development

The Fraser Coast’s first 17-storey tower is at the centre of a major development planned for the once-sleepy retirement and whale watching mecca of Hervey Bay. Here’s everything you need to know.

A landmark 17-storey hotel development, set to be built at Hervey Bay’s Urangan Marina from next year, will be the shot in the arm the harbour needs.

That is what Fraser Coast Councillor Zane O’Keefe believes.

The $60 million, four-star Marina Square development is the project of Hervey Bay Boat Club and advisory services firm, Club Property Solutions and would be the tallest in the whale watching and retirement mecca.

The only other high-rise of its kind, a16-storey development flagged for the Pialba CBD, was approved by the council in March.

The harbour site, which is currently a tired tourist park, was purchased in 2014.

Under the new plans, the hotel would feature a ground-floor alfresco cafe, wellness and function centre and a rooftop bar in co-operation with a major international operator.

The 144 rooms would offer views over Urangan Harbour Marina and the Great Sandy Strait to Fraser Island.

Future stages in the project would include 120 residential apartments built across two towers of 13 and 15 storeys in height.

Cr O’Keefe said the site was the ideal space for a development of this kind.

“It’s the perfect location for that” he said, adding that the hotel itself would be “iconic”.

Hervey Bay Boat Club General Manager Tony Bonello, said the site was the club’s neighbourhood and it has always been its objective to make it into all it could be for the community.

“That’s why we moved to acquire the lease when it became available,” Mr Bonello said.

“We wanted to work with council and the community in helping to shape a positive future for the harbour precinct.”

Club Property Solutions Director Greg Wilson said the site’s zoning allowed for development up to 30 levels, however the project’s focus had been on minimising scale while maximising amenity.

An artist impression of the Marina Square development – CREDIT: RPS Group

“Hervey Bay is seeing a major inflow of new permanent residents and, following from that, a wave of investment by retail majors and other businesses,” Mr Wilson said.

“On top of this, visitors are streaming to the Fraser Coast for experience-based getaways and the events market is racing ahead as well.

“All of this means a significant and sustainable increase in demand for a new standard of short-stay accommodation from both tourists and business travellers.

“Marina Square’s location and design mean that it is perfectly positioned to respond to that demand.”

The project this week received the support of the Fraser Coast Regional Council and is being backed by the Queensland Government as a ‘regionally significant’ project.

Fraser Coast Deputy Mayor Darren Everard said it was great to see the State Government’s support to allow this project to get underway and open up the Urangan Precinct for significant private investment.

“I personally think this project will assist in reinvigorating the Urangan Precinct and could be the key to kickstarting the region with new accommodation options,” he said

“We welcome investment that will assist in taking our region forward.”

Construction at the site is expected to begin in mid-2022.