Business class: Challenges for developer

Western Australian company, Broadwater Hotels and Resorts, is set to spearhead two of the state’s landmark tourism accommodation projects in the coming year.

Earlier this year, Broadwater was named as the successful developer of Rottnest Island’s long-awaited, and controversial, $50 million hotel development.

But the project hit a snag late last month, forcing it back to the public consultation process.

Broadwater CEO Scott Cogar believes the 120-room, 4.5-star hotel will stand the test of public scrutiny in terms of sustainability, economic viability and sensitivity to the Rottnest ethos.

“Compliance for the project ran eight pages – sustainability guidelines, environmental policies etc. There were huge hurdles in terms of meeting all of those,” he said.

Mr Cogar believes the new development will complement existing accommodation available on the island, and will provide a viable alternative for short-stay, long weekend holiday makers who don’t want to stay in a house.

The Rottnest Island Authority has also publicly allayed fears the island (pictured, top) will become over-developed, by indicating this accommodation development will be the only one for the foreseeable future.

Mr Cogar has welcomed the authority’s renewal of the island’s facilities, cafes and shops.

“[Rottnest] needs updating. All of us, as WA taxpayers, are paying for it,” he said. “It’s time it became economically sustainable in its own right.”

Broadwater’s other landmark project is the proposed 30-room five-star Abrolhos Islands tourist accommodation development (above), in conjunction with Geraldton-based Humfrey Land Developments.

After eight years of public consultation, and meeting stringent environmental standards, Mr Cogar said he had received advice from the Environmental Protection Authority that it would not object to the resort proceeding.

Built on boardwalks 50 centimetres above the ground, the $12 million accommodation development is completely self-supporting, with its own sewerage treatment plant, power generation and water supply on site.

All of the utilities will be run under the boardwalks, removing the need for drilling into the ground.

Mr Cogar said the two environ-mentally sensitive developments would be leading edge in WA.

“Both of those operations are very costly to build and are quite costly to operate, if you want to meet the sus-tain-ability requirements,” he said.

Mr Cogar said he was expecting to secure approvals almost simultaneously for the two projects. And with an estimated building time of between 18 and 22 months, both are expected to be open in early 2009.

Two other regional developments are also on the cards for Broadwater, namely a 105-bed 4.5-star resort in Geraldton, again with Humfrey Land Developments, and a 180-room 4.5-star hotel in Exmouth.