Concept design plans for The Links Hotel in Shell Cove. Photo: Shellharbour City Council.
A major new hotel is a step closer for Shell Cove, with Shellharbour City Council now seeking expressions of interest from experienced developers to build a 140-room venue next to The Links Golf Course and only 300 metres from the soon-to-open Shellharbour Hospital.
Councillors voted in February to seek interest from hotel developers to partner with council for The Links Hotel, to be situated on council land on Golf Drive.
Submissions are open, with potential candidates having until 23 September to apply.
Council is calling for proposals for a hotel on a 6736 sqm site (Lot 1 DP 1098888).
Plans should include at least 140 rooms, a restaurant and bar, meeting and event spaces, a wellness and gym area, dedicated parking and the facilities needed to run the hotel.
Once selected, the successful applicant will be working towards an end of 2028 open date.
Shellharbour Mayor Chris Homer said the hotel would bring major benefits to the community, while retaining the things that made Shellharbour unique.
“Shellharbour has a lot to offer, from our marina, world-class golf course and our beautiful natural spaces,” Cr Homer said.
“This hotel is about adding to that. It will help bring more visitors, boost local jobs and give businesses new opportunities to grow.
“This supports our long-term vision for a thriving, well-serviced community, while also creating short-term accommodation opportunities to support health care workers, patients and their families visiting the new hospital.”
Council previously obtained a preliminary feasibility study, which found a significant undersupply of quality short-term accommodation in the area, with existing options primarily limited to holiday parks and small motels.
Along with providing more accommodation options in the area, it will also help host bigger events, meetings and conferences.
Its location near the golf course and hospital is expected to make it popular with holidaymakers, business travellers, medical visitors and event guests.
A new hotel aligns with council launching a new marketing campaign this month, aimed at encouraging more patronage of Shellharbour Airport, which offers direct flights to Melbourne and Brisbane via Link Airways.
In February, Councillor Rob Petreski said he supported the strategy of taking the lowest risk option, by looking for the market to come back to council to tell them what was feasible and what could be achieved at that site in keeping with its plans.
“It’s very important we’re setting the master plan here and we’re letting the market come to us,” Cr Petreski said.
“It was designed to be activated. It was designed to create jobs. It was designed to diversify our economy, and it was designed to make sure our residents have both a place to stay and a place to play.”
During that meeting, Cr Lou Stefanovski expressed concerns of it having only 71 parking spaces.
“I would like to encourage our operational staff to strongly look into providing just as many parking spots, even if we do go underground,” Cr Stefanovski said.
“There’s nothing worse than coming into a hotel and not being able to find a place to park.”
At the time, Cr Homer said in relation to parking and future traffic management concerns, council was working closely with the State Government to ensure proper access and egress at the site.
Developers can find the full details and submit their proposals through council’s Tenderlink portal.
