Margaret River to get five-star hotel with Westin Margaret River Resort and Spa opening in 2023

Developer Luke Saracini has unveiled plans to revive stalled plans for a five-star, $100 million resort at Margaret River once subject to a Supreme Court challenge. Security Capital Australia and the Saracen Properties chief bought the property overlooking the Margaret River coast at Gnarabup late last year and attracted nine of the world’s leading hotel chains keen to run the luxury resort designed by Christou Design Group. Marriott International’s Westin Hotels will manage the resort, expected to open in 2023 offering 120 rooms including 45 luxury suites. A 200-seat restaurant and two other food-and-drink outlets, a day spa, v-shaped pool, and 400sqm of events space will allow conferencing facilities at the prime coastal location overlooking the Gnarabup Beach. Flanked by Premier Mark McGowan and Tourism Minister Paul Papalia yesterday morning, Mr Saracini and Westin Perth general manager Peter Brampton said the “low key” development had changed since the failed Gnarabup Beach Estate and would enhance the location while driving jobs in Margaret River. Mr Papalia said the plan was a vote of confidence in the WA economy post-coronavirus and would drive tourism to the next level Statewide. “It’s a confirmation of just what a quality destination Margaret River and Australia’s South West is,” he said. “Before the COVID crisis, we had seen two years running of record levels of out-of-State visitor numbers. “More tourists came to WA from interstate and overseas than ever before in history, and Margaret River was absolutely essential to attracting those visitors.” About 300 jobs would come during construction, with more than 100 jobs once the resort opened. Mr McGowan said the “very exciting project” would be sympathetic to the landscape. “It would attract tourists from all over Australia, and when our borders open, no doubt all over the world, and this will be a great addition to the local tourism infrastructure,” he said. “This is one of those projects that will create exactly that sense of confidence and optimism that WA is renowned for, and it’ll be a great place, and a great employment generator.” The site was put on the market in 2016 for about $10 million containing five undeveloped land parcels covering 6.9 hectares. Previous developers proposed a 102-key luxury resort and an adjacent 73-villa site and commercial lots. In 2002, the Shire of Augusta-Margaret River council backed the now-defunct Leeuwin Conservation Group in a failed Supreme Court bid to get WA Planning Commission approvals overturned. The previous iteration was widely opposed by residents and conservationists due to the scale of the proposal on coastal land within the Leeuwin-Naturaliste ridge. Mr Papalia said the project would adhere to all planning guidelines, with the plans now under review. Mr Saracini said plans had changed from the previous proposal and tourism zoning was now in place. “It’s been through the Supreme Court. It’s been through that process. We’re not really doing anything that’s not allowed on the site,” he said. “We’re going to keep it low key. It’s no more than a two-storey hotel. “It’ll be an asset that I think people will be happy to have because we will be promoting the natural products, the wines, the beverage and the food that’s comes from this local region, and I think people will generally, once it’s finished, they will be happy with it. They’ll be very proud of it.” Liberal MP for Vasse Libby Mettam called on the State Government to invest in tourism-related infrastructure in the South West, citing the Underwater Obsevatory at Busselton Jetty and upgrades to Busselton-Margaret River Airport. “With the international borders closed for some time there is no better time to invest in domestic tourism. The South West is crying out for more support from the McGowan Government,” she said.