Manji motel knocked back over parking

A 35-room motel in the heart of Western Australia’s gourmet food province has been knocked back by the local council over traffic concerns.

The Manji Hotel was proposed to the Shire of Manjimup’s council meeting on Thursday. It is the latest in a string of developments that could add a combined 200 rooms to Manjimup, which is grappling with how to accommodate mine staff, seasonal workers and tourists.

However, Shire of Manjimup councillors sent the proposal back to its developers to address parking concerns of neighbouring business owners.

Despite this, shire president Donnelle Buegge said the council overall was supportive of the project.

“I think there is definitely ways that it could be reworked slightly,” she said.

“It is just on a really busy corner and there's no restaurant or anything on site, so it is also that concern of the people staying there, that entry and exit to go and get food.”

Officers had recommended granting development approval subject to a long list of criteria and advice.

The new motel would be in addition to a proposed 98-room motel on vacant land at the south end of town put forward in September 2023 and Manjimup Investments’ almost-finished Gallery Hotel to the north of the town centre.

Combined, the three hotels will bring sorely needed options to Manjimup where shortages have left tourists struggling to find accommodation during major events such as the annual Truffle Kerfuffle and Cherry Harmony festivals.

“We have the spillover from the Greenbushes mine, a lot of those workers come down and stay in Manjimup,” Councillor Buegge said.

“We are finding it hard for [tourists] to come and stay in town because a lot of the accommodation is booked out, so the long-term vision of the developer to be able to do this is fantastic.

“There's plenty of things for people to come down here and see and do and to be able to stay somewhere nice, new and comfortable is an added benefit.”

She said Pemberton, 20 minutes' drive away, was also in need of more accommodation.

Manjimup was one of nine regional WA locales earmarked under the former government’s Super Towns regime, which set aside $90 million of Royalties for Regions funds into redeveloping town centres.

Only half of that was spent and it was one of the first programs reviewed when Labor swept to power in 2017, due to its perceived failure to deliver on population growth.

Just two of nine towns under the program experienced population growth between 2011 and 2017.

By 2021, a further two had grown according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, albeit marginally.

Super Towns growth 2011 to 2021

• Margaret River 40%
• Western Australia: 18.8%
• Northam 7.6%
• Jurien Bay 6.2%
• Esperance 3%
• Manjimup -1%
• Katanning -3%
• Collie -3.5%
• Boddington -23%
• Morawa -26%

Councillor Buegge said the Super Towns fund laid the groundwork to transform Manjimup from a service town into one welcoming to tourists.