Federal Group’s $30m resort plan for Port Arthur stalls
THE opening of Federal Group’s $30 million luxury hotel at Port Arthur is expected to blow out well beyond the 2019-20 summer period.
Tasmania
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THE opening of Federal Group’s $30 million luxury hotel at Port Arthur is expected to blow out beyond the 2019-20 summer period because of a delay in finalising development plans.
The intention is to build a low-set structure housing just 40 guests in 20 rooms, to be built on the site of the present Port Arthur Motor Inn, overlooking the Port Arthur Historic Site.
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The company said last year it expected to start the 18- month construction process by the middle of this year, with the site to be opened by the summer of 2019-20.
However, when contacted, a Federal Group spokesman said the company was unsure when construction would begin and plans were still being drawn up.
The spokesman said the company was about to start market testing the concept plans.
It means a start date for construction could possibly be delayed until early next year, with the opening likely to be well beyond the summer of 2019-20.
Final approvals for the site are still being sought through the Port Arthur Historic Site Management Authority and are likely to be secured after market testing.
The testing will involve concepts of the resort being evaluated with target audiences in key visitor markets such as Melbourne or Sydney.
Federal Group will then further develop its plans, which are being drawn up by Cumulus Architects, based on the feedback.
“The results of this testing will be critical to inform the final development,” the spokesman said. “We will not be taking over the [development] site until we are ready to commence construction.”
The present operators of the motor inn will occupy the site until the middle of next year.
“We will be keeping the Port Arthur Motor Inn operating as close as possible to the commencement of construction,” the spokesman said.
The development was first proposed by Federal Group in 2006.
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