Oakbank main street motel plans slammed by locals

Oakbank locals have savaged plans for the two-storey, 28-room tourist motel in the main street, calling the designs an eyesore.

Artist impression of a proposed 28-room tourist development in Oakbank, on the site of a home on Onkaparinga Valley Rd. Picture: Beyond Ink

A sandstone home in Oakbank well-known for its pictures of the Queen and James Bond would be demolished for a two-storey, 28-room tourist motel in the main street under new plans.

The designs submitted to Adelaide Hills Council reveal 28, one-bedroom tourist apartments on the site consisting of living/bedroom area, kitchenette and bathroom.

Before fit-out, the project would cost around $2.5m – but that would be just the “walls and ceiling”, town planner and designer Sean Elliot said.

Designed by Hahndorf’s Beyond Ink, the project includes a carpark and a separate laundry area at the rear, open from 9am to 5pm Monday to Sunday to prevent noise affecting neighbours.

An artist impression reveals glass-walled apartments facing out and an upper level clad in spaced timber slat screenings.

About three staff would work on-site.

The property on Onkaparinga Valley Rd, Oakbank, where the proposed tourist development would go.

The project would be the only such motel in the area and is being developed by the land owner.

A property search reveals the two lots, 209 and 209a, both last sold in 2007 for $500,000 each to Laboratory Instrument Repairs – which is listed as the developer – and have a combined size of 3000 sqm.

The motel would neighbour the Oakbank Hotel, and lead to the end of the well-known home that has for years featured two cut-outs peering out at the road from the front windows – one of the Queen, and the other of Daniel Craig’s James Bond.

Mr Elliot, Beyond Ink senior town planner, said the idea was to “spread the load” across the Adelaide Hills and allow more towns to provide accommodation.

The property on Onkaparinga Valley Rd, Oakbank, where the proposed tourist development would go.

“We’re here to help diversify development across the Hills,” he said.

“There are multiple events throughout the Hills and Oakbank that can use this sort of development.”

Reaction to the design has been largely critical with users of a local Facebook group calling it “hideous and out of place”, and an “eyesore”.

“They can’t possibly think of approving this! It is completely out of character with the town aesthetic. I don’t think it’s impossible, or undesirable, to have tourist/affordable accommodation in Oakbank, but it must fit with the tone of the town,” wrote Cécile Dutreix.

“The cottage is so in keeping with the town … isn’t there somewhere else they can build this,” Shani Arnold said.

“I feel someone hasn’t done their market research properly,” Mandy Adcock wrote.

But Ben Major said it was “definitely needed” because there was “limited accommodation in the area”.

And Pauline van Alphen said it would be “amazing for the community”.

Originally published as Oakbank main street motel plans slammed by locals