Stirling’s Mount Lofty Golf Estate hotel given provisional approval by minister

An $86m hotel and resort has been approved for a lush Adelaide Hills golf course, after the developer submitted amended plans to settle council concerns.

Artist impressions for a proposed hotel on the Mount Lofty Golf Course in the Adelaide Hills, which has received provisional approval from the Planning Minister. Picture: R Architecture,

Planning Minister Nick Champion has approved the concept and location for a huge, controversial $86m tourist resort at Stirling, after it was amended by the developer in response to environmental concerns.

Mr Champion last week granted provisional development approval for the Mount Lofty Golf Estate and Resort, which would upgrade a 39.9ha golf course site by adding a hotel reaching up to five storeys, a golf facilities building, and a retail, cafe and function space.

The June 2023 proposal sparked a 900-person petition over fears it would harm koalas and local fauna, while Adelaide Hills Council engineers said the proposed entrance at Golflinks Rd was not suitable.

Artist impressions for a proposed hotel on the Mount Lofty Golf Course in the Adelaide Hills, which has received provisional approval from the Planning Minister. Picture: R Architecture,

Artist impressions for a proposed hotel on the Mount Lofty Golf Course in the Adelaide Hills, which has received provisional approval from the Planning Minister. Picture: R Architecture,

The amended proposal, prepared in December 2024 and made public on Friday, scrapped plans for 17 luxurious private retreat “pods”, preserved 144 scattered trees, and reduced the native vegetation impact from 1.716ha to 0.431ha.

Mr Champion approved the plan subject to multiple conditions, requiring the developer to start construction within two years, finish within five years and submit separate development applications for individual components of the project.

Adelaide Hills Council Acting Mayor Nathan Daniell said the upgrade would “provide much needed recreation and accommodation options in the region” and welcomed changes to the original plan.

“This includes the removal of accommodation pods which will substantially reduce the environmental impact of the development,” he said.

Mr Daniell said the proponent was required to enter into an infrastructure agreement with the council to upgrade Golflinks Rd and the local wastewater pumping station.

Artist impression for the proposed adaptive reuse of the perfumery building - right - at the Mount Lofty Golf Estate in the Adelaide Hills. Picture: R Architecture

Mount Lofty Golf Course finance manager Clea Vetch said it remained to be seen how the plans would affect her business, but she supported the development.

Mount Lofty Golf Course – formerly called Stirling Golf Club – leases land from the proponent, Sam Jayathilaka.

“New development means the area’s thriving, and the place needs a really good overhaul,” Ms Vetch said. “We’re pleased to have new facilities here and we think it’ll be successful.”

Under the amended plan, the site’s 18-hole golf course would be retained with alterations.

The hotel building would comprise more than 80 units and serviced apartments, along with a function room, restaurant, sports bar, gallery, cafe and wellness centre.

The site’s heritage perfumery building would be repurposed as a retail, cafe and function space.

Artist impression for the proposed adaptive reuse of the perfumery building on the Mount Lofty Golf Course, which is part of the planned hotel in the Adelaide Hills. Picture: R Architecture

The historic perfumery building on the Mount Lofty Golf Course, which would be reused and adapted for a proposed hotel. Supplied

A State Planning Commission report in May said the proponent had taken community and environmental concerns seriously, concluding the amended proposal had “sufficient merit and can be supported”.

Mr Champion was not available to comment on Friday.

Mr Jayathilaka was contacted for comment.

Originally published as Stirling’s Mount Lofty Golf Estate hotel given provisional approval by minister