State panel approves luxury hotel for Margaret River town centre despite parking issues

A contentious proposal for a new “sustainable” hotel in the heart of Margaret River was approved by WA’s Joint Development Assessment Panel on Tuesday morning. Shire of Augusta-Margaret River planners — as well as the local business community — opposed the Adrian Fini-led project due to a lack of adequate parking in the town centre, but the Shire council earlier this month overruled that decision. However, under the guidance of presiding member Tony Arias, JDAP did not take the parking issue lightly — in fact recommending the Shire urgently review its parking strategy to stave off future problems. The JDAP approval also amended the conditions on the $8.5 million Fini hotel which was due to start construction in the second half of next year. Shire councillor Ian Earl moved to reintroduce a requirement, dismissed by the council itself, to investigate a 120sqm lease agreement for the rear of the site abutting the Margaret River Community Centre and Soupie for the sake of an extra six parking bays. Cr David Binks opposed that change unsuccessfully, saying it was a waste of valuable Shire-owned land. Mr Arias then moved to mandate cash in lieu parking compensation for the remaining parking shortfall and for those funds to be used as part of a strategic consideration for the town’s parking needs. Business owner Miriam Bailey told the JDAP waiving extra parking requirements was unfair on smaller operators paying leases on private parking hotel guests would use. “Traffic management is a significant concern for this development,” she told th JDAP. “If the Fini Group don’t see the need to supply their own carparks, why should they be allowed to use mine?” Alessio Fini told the meeting the project aimed to create “something that has never been seen before in Australia — a net-circular hotel in construction and operation”. The project would provide vital town-centre accommodation amid an “Airbnb epidemic”, activate the streetscape, offer new facilities to residents, boost the night-time economy and connect with pedestrian-friendly ambitions activated by the Shire’s Fearn Avenue festival precinct, Mr Fini said. “The South West has not seen an ambitious addition of hotel rooms for quite some time,” he said. “This project could be a real boost to Margaret River, its identity, its aspirations.” Award-winning architect Nic Brunsdon also argued the ethos of the project was against an outdated, conventional approach to development. “We just don’t want to have a heap of empty carparks,” he said. “We don’t see this as a monolith. We see this as part of a grander story of Margaret River.” JDAP member Karella Hope was the sole vote against the amended proposal, saying she knew Margaret River well and believed the parking shortfall would have serious consequences for the town. “Margaret River . . . is very car-reliant,” she said. “To me, that seems a fundamental part of Margaret River and how it operates. “Why is it that the development should be given another benefit that other developments have not been given? “Others should not have to carry the can for this,” Ms Hope said. Mr Arias also grilled the proponents on how they could promise not creating “a negative legacy for the town centre”. Alessio Fini said without a parking management plan, “we have not resolved that, as of today”. Jamie Fini echoed claims from Cr David Binks that future commercial growth in Rapids Landing would alleviate pressure on the CBD. Ms Hope also warned the JDAP decision risked setting a precedent for parking at future developments in Margaret River. She urged reconsideration of the building design as well as underground rear parking options, and noted the amendment to include the potential six-bay lease was an acknowledgement the project had a significant shortfall.