Noosa Springs Golf and Spa developers reveal fresh plans for boutique hotel

The development company leading Noosa’s five-star hotel project has been described as “not financially motivated” as fresh plans are revealed following community backlash.

Developers have given the first glimpse at revised plans for a $50m, five-star “boutique” hotel project pitched to revitalise a popular Noosa golf resort.

Height limits and the loss of koala habitat trees have been taken into account under fresh plans for Noosa Springs’ $50m, five-star hotel revealed to the Sunshine Coast Daily.

Developers were surprised to receive hundreds of objections to the “boutique” hotel which was expected to create 360 jobs.

Among the concerns raised were that the development exceeded the council’s 12m height limit, would lead to loss of koala habitat trees and did not fit in with Noosa’s surroundings.

Noosa Springs Golf and Spa Resort general manager Phil Starkey said the hotel proposal had been reduced from 112 rooms to 106 to address the building height objections.

He said removing six rooms would make the project no taller than 12m.

A split level pool is proposed as part of the five-star Noosa Springs hotel development.

The resort would be located on 3.8ha of land at the eastern side of the Noosa Springs resort, close to the clubhouse and spa complex.

He said it would be incorporated into Noosa Springs including the golf course and spa.

Part of the new hotel would be built at Noosa Springs’ three current tennis courts – where there are also about 19 koala feed trees.

Mr Starkey said they were working with ecologists to identify areas on the 60ha golf course to plant new koala feed trees.

He said four new tennis courts would be built including a hardcourt competition court.

GH Properties director Ellen Guan said the Hong Kong-based company wanted to add value to the Noosa Springs Resort after purchasing it in 2014.

She said the hotel development would give local employment opportunities including for those already working at the resort.

“We’re not a financially driven developer we want to do something that we’re proud of,” Ms Guan said.

“We feel that we can enrich people’s lives and create a place that can deliver an inspirational experience.”

Some residents also raised concern with the hotel being promoted as “boutique” and with its scale.

Ms Guan said the way it was designed made it boutique and about 100 rooms over 3.8ha was not excessive.

GH Properties prioritised the pool area in plans for the five-star Noosa Springs resort.

Mr Starkey and his father, architect Alan Starkey, sold the business to GH Properties after they developed the master plan for the area more than 20 years ago.

He said the hotel was the final piece of development for Noosa Springs.

Mr Starkey said the hotel would feature a split level pool and cater to international guests and high-spending tourists.

“I think it’s terrific and so does my father who was the visionary for the resort,” he said.

“It’s the third main element of Noosa Springs and was always envisioned.”

It would be GH Properties’ – which also owns Hope Links Golf and Resort – first new development in Australia.

Other submitters raised concern with the number of car parks.

If approved the area would have parking increase from 220 to 293 which Mr Starkey and Ms Guan said would meet the area’s needs.

“It’s in our best interest to provide carparking so we are more about that than anyone else,” Ms Guan said.

Mr Starkey said he was surprised by some of the negative responses to the development during the council’s community consultation phase.

A Noosa Council spokesman said officers were considering about 430 submissions before bringing the application to a future council meeting.

“I was asking around leading up to that and I had quite an apathetic response,” Mr Starkey said.

“But that’s part of the process and we’ve made changes already.”

Ms Guan said they wanted to expand the hotel to offer health and wellness programs such as yoga, meditation and pilates to guests.

It would also be advertised as a conference facility and for weddings.