Opal Apartments to replace Shelly Beach Motel on Hervey Bay Esplanade

An old motel on Hervey Bay’s esplanade will be demolished to make way for a modern “medium to high-rise” complex. DETAILS.

Opal Developments plans to transform the old Shelly Beach Motel into new apartments.

Another old motel will be knocked down and replaced with modern apartments on Hervey Bay’s tourist strip.

Planning documents show the Fraser Coast council has approved the application to turn the existing Shelly Beach Motel at 509 the Esplanade, Torquay into Opal Shelly Beach Apartments.

The brick buildings are to be demolished so a new seven-storey complex offering a mix of residential and holiday/short stay accommodation can rise in their place.

An aerial showing the current location and structure.

This would make it similar in height to the six-storey plus basement Oaks Resort at Urangan while still being significantly lower than other proposed projects in the region including landmark 21-storey twin towers at 408 the Esplanade, Torquay which if approved, would become a Sheraton resort with its own deep-dive and snorkelling experience.

It’s also one of several projects which involves demolishing old motels/dwellings to make way for modern apartments like the nearby Hervey Bay Motel site at the corner of 517 the Esplanade and Margaret Streets which the Hervey Bay RSL plans to transform into high-end units.

“It is a reasonable expectation that a 20m high development as envisaged by the planning scheme would cast shadows on several adjacent properties,” the application on behalf of Opal Developments states.

Opal Developments plans to transform the old Shelly Beach Motel into new seven-storey apartments. This is the concept image for the eastern aspect.

“The extent and duration of shadows cast by the proposed development are not likely to be materially different to those

that could be cast by a development form that strictly adhered to the acceptable outcome.

“Proposed building massing and scale is appropriate having regard to the site’s zoning and building height allowance.”

According to the planning documents, the Shelly Beach site, which comprises an area of 1,912m2, currently contains a two level, 13 room motel whereas as the planned development contains 49 units within the seven-storey building, comprising 36 two-bedroom units and 13 three-bedroom units.

The proposed new site layout.

While Esplanade-facing, the development will be accessed via Hockley Lane and will include a pool, gym, common rooftop, 94 car park spaces, five motorbike spaces, 62 bike spaces all within the basement level.

In its decision notice the Fraser Coast council approved the application with several pages of conditions including that “design and construction all external building material, colours and finished to have low reflectivity to minimise reflective glare that

contributes to sky glow”.

The developer must also “design and construct the full length of Hockley Lane, from the intersection of Cypress Street through to the intersection of Margaret Street and, from the intersection of the Esplanade, southward”.