Northern Grampians Shire Council leaders are thrilled a new hotel projected to inject $150 million into the region's economy throughout the next decade has been greenlit following months of collaboration between the organisation and developers.
The $16 million LOAM Hotel will be built along the Western Highway, Stawell, after developer Barkly Property Ventures secured funding through the State Government's Regional Tourism Investment Fund 2024.
The four-star, double-storey hotel will be part of Choice Hotels Asia-Pac's upscale Ascend Collection and feature 77 rooms.
Work on the development, north of the United service station, is expected to start in coming months and will create an estimated 174 new construction jobs and 53 ongoing roles along with more than 100 indirect 'flow-on' jobs in the supply chain.
Mayor Karen Hyslop said she was excited to see the hard work of developers Sam and Gerard Ballantyne come to fruition.
"Sam and Gerard came to us about 18 months ago with this proposal, after doing their research and deciding Stawell was the perfect location to bring their vision to life," she said.
"This is such a critical project given our acute shortage of new higher-end tourism and worker accommodation.
"The LOAM Hotel will not only provide a significant number of new motel units for tourists and travellers between Melbourne and Adelaide, but it will also offer accommodation options for management workers and contractors serving our major industries.
"It is also strategically located near the turn-off to Halls Gap."
Developer Sam Ballantyne said the development would help strengthen and grow the Grampians' status as a premium tourist destination in regional Victoria.
"LOAM Hotel will be a flagship for the region, and we are firmly focused on collaborating with – and connecting our guests to – local businesses, vendors, producers and artisans to stimulate the economy and be a valuable part of the community," he said.
"We're very thankful for the advocacy and support of Northern Grampians Shire Council, Grampians Tourism as well as our project delivery partner Wimmera Southern Mallee Development."
Cr Hyslop said facilitating economic development was a key role of council and anyone seeking to invest in the municipality could contact the organisation about available support.
She said the council last year released an Investment Prospectus and accompanying social media campaign showcasing the organisation as supportive and eager to stimulate investment in the region.
"We are committed to seeing our towns prosper and grow, from small business to major investments such as the LOAM Hotel," she said.
"I'm extremely proud that council's senior staff and Economic Development team have supported this project as a priority, from the early days of identifying the need in the tourism space right through to overcoming recent challenges.
"Council has been instrumental in making this project happen and I can't wait to see the finished product delivered."
Choice Hotels Asia-Pac has released architectural renders of LOAM Hotel, which showcase how the hotel will blend seamlessly with the renowned Grampians' landscape.
The hotel's design celebrates the natural wonders of the region and pays homage to the Traditional Owners of Djab Wurrung and Jardwadjali people.
The interior fit-out, colour palette and furnishings will also take inspiration from 'The Six Seasons of Gariwerd' – highlighting the surrounding flora, fauna and cultural connections.
Key features of the hotel include studio-style rooms, a wellness studio and hydrothermal room with sauna and ice baths, onsite guest laundry, onsite electric vehicle chargers and a solar energy system.
The hotel will exceed a five-star energy rating and will have dedicated accessible rooms to ensure an inclusive accommodation experience for all guests.
