$20m luxury resort, apartment complex pinned for Merimbula

A mega $20m luxury resort could pump life into a tourist haven one developer claims has been “left behind”, with the proposal seeing mixed reactions emerging from south coast residents.

The proposal includes luxury apartments and hotel suites.

A high end, multimillion-dollar luxury resort housing multiple apartments, a hotel and a restaurant has been proposed for a NSW south coast town swimming with “tourism potential”.

Proposed for 58 Merimbula Drive, Merimbula, the $20m mixed-use development has re entered public exhibition with the Bega Valley Shire Council, after more than a month of community submissions.

The development has returned to the public exhibition following council discussions and seeking further information from Canberra-based development firm, the Bulum Group.

Bulum Group owner, Nik Bulum, submitted the mega proposal, which, if approved, would see 14 luxury townhouse apartments, four luxury hotel suites, a rooftop restaurant and a pool constructed.

Mr Bulum grew up on the south coast before making the move to the capital where he kickstarted his development business.

Bulum Group owner, Nik Bulum.

Now, he wants to give back to the tourist haven he says as been “left behind”.

“That’s why I wanted to build this here – it’s time for the town to start growing,” he told this publication.

The proposal has a price tag of $20m.

“There’s so many motels but there’s just no hotels and it’s a place with so much tourism potential.”

Mr Bulum’s proposal first entered public exhibition on the Bega Valley Shire Council in mid 2023.

During this time, a litany of Merimbula residents left their thoughts on the proposal, some encouraging such a behemoth facility to be built, while other NIMBYS shared their frustration at the rapid transformation of their coastal haven.

Peter Johnson submitted that the proposal would have positive effects on the town’s tourism economy.

The proposal is pinned for 58 Merimbula Drive, Merimbula.

“Lots of people come here for Christmas, but they struggle to find decent places to stay,” he submitted to council.

“This kind of luxury resort will attract more holiday goers to our beautiful area.”

However, Margret Brown shared distaste to the $20m proposal – saying Merimbula was “being destroyed”.

“We can’t allow these major developments to keep going in,” she said.

“I agree that tourist accommodation is needed, but the structure needs to fit the town.”

The proposal includes luxury apartments and hotel suites.

Mr Bulum however believes his design does fit Merimbula, with coastal aesthetics being considered in the architecture.

“Our hotel is going to be jaw dropping amazing,” he said.

“It’s going to have 360 views of the ocean, the town and with the glass panel design, will have views of both the sunrise and the sunset.”

The new major mixed-use development will replace a small out-of-commission hotel owned by the Bulum Group which currently resides on the land.

Mr Bulum revealed the 14 townhouses would also be luxurious and feature a similar design to the hotel suites.

“These are luxury rooms and I’m so excited to be bringing them to Merimbula,” he said.

Construction on the major development could begin in 2025, contingent on council approval.

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Originally published as $20m luxury resort, apartment complex pinned for Merimbula