Hotel Development.

Club Sapphire Making Plans to Strengthen Its Future within the Community

Club Sapphire is proposing to build and integrate a 4 plus star hotel on the southern side of the existing Club, fronting Main Street (adjacent to the Woolworths carpark entry).


This proposal realises our Club’s long-term vision of continued provision of services and support for our 8000 members and the Merimbula community. The proposal will ensure our Club’s financial security, while reducing our reliance on gaming revenue.


Our proposal will provide a 7 storey, 100 room, 4 plus star luxury hotel within our existing club site, with the intention of securing a national hotel operator.


The proposal will attract high-end tourism to Merimbula and help our club secure more elite bowling events. We also see opportunities for increased business tourism, conferences and events which will provide a positive economic impact for our town.


Planning for this project is a two-stage process. The first stage involved the Club lodging a draft concept development application (DA) with Bega Valley Shire Council to explore the proposal and the additional height request. If this DA receives approval, the second stage will commence with the lodgment of a DA for the hotel.


A key motivator for the project is to adapt to the changing landscape of gaming in NSW. The proposal is crucial to the ongoing viability of the Club over the coming decades. With this proposal our ability to provide services to the community will be secured and will assist in maintaining a contemporary Club, with world-class amenity for our members.

The hotel presents an exciting opportunity as the Club seeks to secure the first 4 plus star hotel offering within Merimbula and the surrounding region.


We intend for the hotel to enhance and compliment the Clubs current facilities, whilst growing the tourism market for Merimbula. It will increase our capacity to host business guests, conferences, and events.


The proposed hotel will include:


  • 4 plus stars
  • 100 rooms
  • Coastal views
  • Integration with existing club facilities
  • Sustainability initiatives


The first step taken by the Club was to lodge a DA with Council to seek permission for additional height to allow for 7 storeys. In order to achieve this height, the Club lodged a planning proposal with Council as the current Development Control Plan only allows 4 storeys.


The design team has established that the additional height on this site will have minimal visual impacts on the town due to its unique positioning on the ridge. It enables the hotel to achieve the required yield of a 4 plus star hotel with minimal impact to views, traffic and amenity.


A hotel built within the current height limit would take up a much larger footprint than the proposed development and would have a greater visual impact, particularly with regard to bulk. It would also mean that the Club would require extensive demolition and replacement of much of the existing Club, which would reduce the Clubs amenity and facilities currently available to its members and guests.


If the planning proposal for additional height is approved, a DA process will commence for the hotel development.


The hotel DA also incorporates several enhancements to the Club itself including improved entry to the Club, a new café, a new carpark, improved building facades and a landscaped public space. These additions will significantly improve the aesthetic appeal of the Club and its amenity.

Media

Business Matters with Jacqui Smith of Wheelers Restaurant and Rik Schnabel of Life Beyond Limits interviewed Damien Foley CEO of Club Sapphire about this new development.

The proposal has become a highly topical point of debate with locals so we're going to discuss it in detail.

The proposal is to amend the Bega Valley Local Environmental Plan 2013 to change the maximum building height from 16 metres to 26 metres on part of 119 Main Street Merimbula (Part Lot 121 DP 1250503).

The objective of the amendment is to enable the development of a seven (7) storey hotel at Club Sapphire.

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FAQ’s

  • Why Is the Club Proposing This Development?

    • We are proposing this development to realise the Club’s long term vision. The proposal will benefit our 8000 members and the Merimbula community, by securing our financial viability as the Club shifts from our reliance on gaming.  
    • The proposal will attract more tourism and will support demand for accommodation for events and business clients.
    • It will also enhance our ability to attract elite and national bowling events, business tourism, conferences and events.

  • Can the Club Afford the Development?

    • Yes. 
    • The club is in a strong financial position to borrow modestly and fund construction of the hotel.

  • Is the Hotel Seven Storeys? Will Views Be Impacted?

    The hotel will be – subject to council approval – 7 storeys. A preliminary design and visual analysis has been provided which demonstrates that the hotel will have a small visual impact to Merimbula and will not impact views (link to preliminary design below). 

  • Will the Development Impact the Club’s Operation?

    • There will inevitably be some impact to the Club’s operation during construction. We are working to limit impacts during the construction phase.
    • Once completed, we see the proposal as having a positive impact on the Club’s operation, and will fund future refurbishment and maintenance of club facilities.

  • Will the Development Impact Parking?

    • No. The staged construction management plan will ensure adequate parking is provided throughout the construction period. 
    • More detail on parking arrangements through construction will be placed on the website and elsewhere in the club if and when the plans are approved.

  • When Will Construction Start?

    • This depends on many factors.
    • When the timing becomes clear the club will provide updates to our membership and the broader community. 

  • Why Is the Hotel Being Built on the Club Site?

    • The club site is the best place for the hotel. Both in terms of the hotel’s viability and utilising the club’s existing facilities. 
    • The site is also well positioned in terms of accommodating additional height, while having very little impact on vista and views.

  • Will Traffic around the Club Be Impacted?

    • There will be some minor traffic disruption during construction.
    • A staged construction management plan will work to minimise disruption. It will be made available on the website and updated as the project progresses. 

  • How Will the Club Staff the Hotel?

    • Our analysis tells us that the hotel development will create new jobs and work opportunities for Merimbula. 
    • We estimate that 30-35  people will be employed by the hotel, subject to seasonal conditions.
    • Approximately 185 jobs will be created during construction. 

  • Will the Height of the Hotel Impact the Views of Local Residents?

    • No. Not significantly. 
    • The concept plan puts the hotel in the optimal position on an optimal site which minimises disruption of visual amenity more than any other design options.

  • Will the Development Impact My Business?

    The club’s analysis tells us that the hotel development will create more jobs and bring more tourism opportunities to Merimbula. For example the proposed development will create among other things:

    • Approximately 185 direct and indirect full time equivalent construction phase jobs
    • 65 to 78 direct and indirect ongoing full time equivalent jobs

  • How Will This Development Benefit the Local Community?

    • The proposed development will attract more high value tourism to Merimbula, which in turn will create more opportunities for local businesses and more jobs in Merimbula. 
    • It will also enable us to host more business tourism (business visitors and events) and more elite bowling events, something our world class bowls facility can already offer. For example the proposed development will create among other things:
    1. Approximately 185 direct and indirect full time equivalent construction phase jobs
    2. 65 to 78 direct and indirect ongoing full time equivalent jobs

  • Will the Bowling Facilities Be Impacted?

    • Not at all in the short term. Positively in the long term. 
    • Bowling facilities will be unaffected through construction.
    • In the longer term we expect that having a 4 plus star hotel integrated with club facilities will allow us to attract more elite bowling events, in turn strengthening our bowling offering. 

  • Will the Club Operate the Hotel?

    The club intends to attract a national hotel operator to run the hotel, with the Club acting as landlord.

  • How Will Local Residents Be Impacted?

    • Minimally.
    • There will be some minor traffic disruption during construction.
    • The staged construction management plan will work to minimize disruption. It will be made available on the website once it is prepared. 

  • Will the Development Have Any Effect on the Flight Paths for Merimbula Airport?

    No.

Commercial Development

The Club is also in the process of lodging a second development application for a commercial building on a 6343m² club owned site at 22 Sapphire Coast Road, Merimbula. The proposed one storey development includes two commercial premises with associated carparking.


The Club is planning to lease the commercial premises which will support the Club’s viability as we move away from gaming, while bringing new business and jobs to Merimbula.


More information will be made available once the DA has been lodged.

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