Livingstone council backs hotel/brewery project despite some concerns

The development of new hotel/micro-brewery in Yeppoon’s thriving entertainment precinct gets the green light despite one councillor’s problem with potential parking issues.

The new hotel/brewery is planned for Arthur Street near The Station Tap House.

The development of a new hotel and micro-brewery in Yeppoon’s CBD has been given enthusiastic approval by Livingstone Shire Council despite some concerns with potential parking issues.

Only Cr Glenda Mather voted against HR Property Development’s hotel/brewery project to be constructed at 42-44 Arthur Street located near The Station 4703 Tap House complex, which only opened in June.

The hotel portion consists of a dining area, service area, cold room and toilet facilities covering 134 square metres in area, while the brewery would be 219 square metres on the ground floor with a 41 square metre mezzanine floor located towards the rear of the building.

The new hotel/brewery is planned for Arthur Street near The Station Tap House.

The hotel/brewery will appear as a large shed with varying wall materials including brick, Colorbond steel and render.

Outdoor seating is proposed to the east on Arthur Street with a 5m awning.

There is no kitchen with any food prepared offsite and brought in by occupants with the intention for The Station to provide meals for the hotel.

Robert McElhenny, from The Station Tap House, is named as an owner/builder of the hotel/brewery in council documents.

Deputy Mayor Pat Eastwood said the development would boost Yeppoon’s thriving entertainment and dining precinct.

“Developments like this really excite me when you get a couple of young entrepreneurs willing to fork out not only the money and the time but they're putting everything on the line to make our community better,” he said.

“You only have to look at The Station and what’s happened there with the amenity that’s brought to our main street to see these guys are developing quality assets.

“They’re going to make Yeppoon better than it already is… and it’s already great. I endorse this, I just ask councillors that we don’t put up any roadblocks against it.”

A dated aerial shot of the Arthur St, Yeppoon site for the new hotel/brewery shows the land before the new Station Tap House complex was built.

Cr Mather commended the developers for their vision but said she couldn't support it out of concern for potential parking problems on Arthur Street related to service vehicles reversing.

Mayor Adam Belot backed the development, saying council could overcome any potential parking problems.

He said small business in Australia was facing a very challenging time and council should be doing all it could to ease their burden.

“Teething problems come with progress and growth and even in this case, despite nearly 10 months working on an application probably costing towards $50,000 to try and address every single possible thing they can,” he said.

“If ever there was a time to realise that perfection is the enemy of the good, it is now.”

Cr Rhodes Watson said it was great to see another entertainment business opening up at that end of James Street as people had been complaining that most of the new establishments were opening near the beach.

Originally published as Livingstone council backs hotel/brewery project despite some concerns