Plans for Motel Now development at 612 Alice St, Maryborough| Video

A major development proposal to turn an old car wrecking yard into a modern short-term housing and holiday accommodation hub could soon be approved in Maryborough. DETAILS, VIDEO.

A major development which would offer both short-term housing and holiday accommodation has reached the next stage of the application process with the Fraser Coast council.

The Motel Now proposal is for 101 “architectural eco cabins” to be built on the old car wrecking yard site at 612 Alice St, Maryborough.

According to planning documents lodged by IRBS 3pty Ltd, the cabins would be a mix of family, studio and accessible units – some of which would be leased out to tenants for a maximum of three months while others would be available for business travellers and tourists via “24-hour contactless, self-managed bookings”.

In the documents, the project is pitched as one that would “assist in providing greater housing supply to the area while still providing ample short-term accommodation” amid a “critical” shortage and also be a driver of economic growth.

"Architectural eco cabins" are proposed for the Alice St development.

“The proposal aims to provide short-term accommodation in Maryborough which is in close proximity to major tourism generators and infrastructure projects,” the application reads

“The proposal will not adversely impact adjoining properties and aims to appropriately integrate with the surrounding development and streetscape … the height, bulk, scale and siting of the proposal are generally consistent with the requirements of the planning scheme.”

While the street address is on Alice St, car access to the accommodation park would be via Palmer St east of the site.

Plans show the layout of the site which would include, modern modular cabins, a large swimming pool, caravan storage, carparking for guests and visitors, a recreation centre and kids' zone and dedicated landscaping with “deep planting” throughout.

The site layout for the proposed Motel Now accommodation park in Alice St.

According to an engineer’s report submitted with the application, which was commission to determine “if the proposed development can be serviced by sewer, water, drainage, roadworks and electrical/telecommunications infrastructure”, there were no issues identified which would preclude the council from granting approval.

Because of the scale and location (the site area is zoned for low-density residential) the plans must be subject to a public notification period.

Plans for a Motel Now tourist park in Maryborough feature a large swimming pool.

This began on Monday, January 8 and must remain open for 15 days.

Signs flagging the developer’s intentions have been placed on temporary fencing at the Alice St site while more information is also available on the council’s development application portal here.