Wagga Council rejects $10m Estella pub development

Council has made a decision regarding a multimillion hotel-tavern and drive-through bottle shop pitched for a growth suburb north of Wagga’s CBD.

A $10m mega pub-hotel development which would have a bottle shop, bistro, cocktail bar and more in Wagga has been rejected by council. Picture: Salvestro Planning

A multimillion-dollar hotel-tavern and bottle shop in Estella has been rejected by Wagga Council.

The Trustee for Estella Hotel Holdings Unit Trust submitted the development application for Avocet Dr in late May which would create a mega-pub development at a cost of $10m.

Documents submitted to council state the proposed site, south of Charles Sturt University and north of Wagga’s CBD, proposed a future hotel-tavern to adjoin the boundary of a new shopping centre under construction.

The new pub was to have three levels, with the basement consisting of a car park, drive through bottle shop, storerooms, amenities areas and site landscaping.

The ground floor included a bistro, lounge, sports bar, gaming area, bar, kitchen, terraces, kids playground, amenities and more storage, while the first floor will have a function room and cocktail bar.

Artist impressions of the site. Picture: Salvestro Planning

Wagga Council rejected the proposal on June 13. A council spokesman said it was refused because it wasn’t clear “for what consent was sought” with the application and did not provide “the required information to allow for an assessment to occur”.

“Less than 0.5 per cent of all applications lodged are rejected at lodgement,” the spokesman said.

The current state of the site in Estella. Picture: Salvestro Planning

The spokesman said council can reject any application within seven days or two weeks if the application was illegible or unclear as to what consent was sought, it did not contain information specific in certain legislation or it did not contain any other matters listed in the environment legislation.

“The legal effect of rejection is that the application is taken, for the purposes of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979, never to have been made,” he said.

“Rejection of the application cannot be taken as an opinion of the proposal and does not affect the assessment of any future complete application which may be made.

“Should a new complete application be made it would be assessed on its merit against the professions of the applicable planning instruments, including the Wagga Local Environmental Plan 2010.”

The proposed pub was to be constructed near a shopping complex which will be anchored by FoodWorks Supermarket and Liquor with the capacity for specialty shops including fast food, news agencies, a gym, cafes and more.

Surrounding land located within Estella consist of homes with an approved residential master plan submitted for existing land near the proposed pub.

The site was also expected to hold 190 car spaces.