Residents scrutinise $50 million Rosny Hill hotel proposal

CLARENCE residents have had a first look at new plans for a hotel on Rosny Hill.

Architect Robert Morris-Nunn at the public information session on his proposed hotel development on Rosny Hill. Pictures: LUKE BOWDEN

CLARENCE residents have had a first look at new plans for a hotel development on Rosny Hill during information sessions held by architect Robert Morris-Nunn.

The sessions were held at the Rosny Linc and were inspired in part by the significant community backlash encountered when the Kangaroo Bay development was before council.

MORE: RESIDENTS EXPRESS KANGAROO BAY OUTRAGE

Professor Morris-Nunn said the idea of the session was to engage with people interested in the development and provide them with answers to prevent the spread of misinformation.

“It is important for us to be able to talk to them and answer their specific questions, rather than saying ‘Here, read the documents’,” Prof Morris-Nunn said.

“We’re trying to do our best to at least provide people with the answers to the questions they want most answered.”

Residents check out the detailed plans for the Rosny Hill proposal.

The new documents show that developers have worked to scale down the footprint of the proposed hotel by removing some pods and adding rooms to the main building.

The new plan features 82 rooms within a two-storey building that wraps around the hill plus 18 premium guest pods. There will be two restaurants, seating up to 200 people each, a function centre for 200 delegates, a gym and private bar with views of Mt Wellington.

“It has a far smaller footprint than it did have before,” Prof Morris-Nunn said.

MORE: $50M HILL HOTEL VISION BACK IN PLAY

Hunter Developments is also behind the controversial development of a $50 million hotel and hospitality training school at Kangaroo Bay with multi-billion-dollar Chinese petrochemical company Shandong Chambroad, which was approved by the council in January last year.

One local thanked Prof Morris-Nunn for making the changes, however local group Friends of Rosny Hill continues to have concerns about developments on the Rosny Hill site.

Denise Hoggan said the group was not opposed to development on Rosny Hill, but was opposed to a development the size of the original proposal.

MORE: LOCALS SPLIT ON PLAN FOR ROSNY HILL

MORE: RESIDENTS SEEK COUNCIL SUPPORT AGAINST HOTEL

Ms Hoggan said she was pleased Prof Morris-Nunn had organised an information session and was looking forward to finding out more.

“From the start this has been really, really big, and that’s what the group is concerned about,” she said.