Mount Victoria: $9.46m tourist accommodation gets green light
Tourism is about to get a big boost in the upper Blue Mountains with a $9.46 million accommodation project getting approval.
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Tourism is about to get a big boost in the upper Blue Mountains with a $9.46 million accommodation project getting approval.
A major redevelopment of the Mount Victoria Motor Inn received the tick of approval from the Blue Mountains Local Planning Panel on Monday night.
The $9.46 million project will see the existing — and empty — Mount Victoria Motor Inn and caretakers’ accommodation knocked down and replaced with a villa-style tourist facility.
The revamped Station St motor inn will have 39 rooms — replacing the current 11 motel rooms — and six double-storey villas with pitched roofs.
“This application has been one where the applicant has worked extremely closely with (Blue Mountains) Council staff,” Urbis group director, John Wynne, told the panel at last night’s meeting in Katoomba.
A renowned and vocal advocate of good quality urban development, Mr Wynne told the four panel members the project design “complements” adjoining development.
The statement of environmental effects considered by the panel was prepared by Urbis Pty Ltd on behalf of One Pro Group, the applicant, who declined to comment.
“The proposal significantly enhances the landscaped character of the site and contributes to the revitalisation of Station St, its heritage values and tourism opportunities,” the statement says.
The statement notes that the heritage-listed Imperial Hotel at 1-15 Station St received development consent last August 2018 for alterations and additions and those works “heavily influence” this proposal and its design decisions.
“The proposed motel has been designed to operate independently of the Imperial Hotel and provides a different style of accommodation,” the statement further noted.
“The motel does not provide food and beverages and therefore ... can leverage off the services offered to the public within the revitalised and renovated Imperial Hotel.”
Panel members Ron Edgar, Kevin Hoffman (chair), Stephen Leathley and Tanya McLean visited the Mount Victoria Motor Inn site yesterday before giving their unanimous consent.
Mr Hoffman said it was interesting the project received no objections given its location in the heart of the town.
The site is within the Central Mount Victoria Urban Conservation Area and is also surrounded by heritage listed properties including Rotunda Reserve, Victoria and Albert Guest House, Mt Vic Flicks and Mt Victoria Memorial Park.