- State Government remains committed to attracting a developer
- Plans for Middleton Beach summer activation now underway
- Site remains open to offers from the market for hotel developer
The State Government will continue its efforts to secure a hotel developer at Albany's Middleton Beach after a recent expression of interest process yielded no conforming submissions.
The quest to find a hotel developer followed an earlier expression of interest process that successfully identified several high-quality hotel chains willing to operate a future hotel at Middleton Beach.
While the outcome of the hotel developer EOI has not delivered immediate results, the site will remain available for mixed-use hotel proposals from the private sector.
In the interim, LandCorp will be working with the City of Albany on plans to activate the site prior to the eventual development of a new hotel.
This could include activating the site to accommodate the influx of visitors to the foreshore during the summer events season, including the Middleton Beach Festival which runs from January 21 to January 27.
The activation strategy is intended to dovetail with the development of a program for the foreshore upgrade, made possible through the City's successful Commonwealth Building Better Regions Fund application.
Further consideration will now be given on how to best progress development of the remaining lots in the Middleton Beach Activity Centre.
The process follows the successful completion of upgrades to Flinders Parade, improving vehicle and pedestrian access to the activity centre.
As stated by Lands Minister Rita Saffioti:
"While the hotel site remains undeveloped, LandCorp will work with the City of Albany to develop a strategy to utilise the area until a developer comes forward with development concepts in keeping with the community's desired outcomes.
"The State Government has demonstrated its commitment for more tourism opportunities in Albany by progressing Flinders Road roadworks, identifying hotel operators and committing significant funding towards the Middleton Beach Activity Centre foreshore upgrade.
"The earlier hotel operator EOI demonstrates there is an appetite to run a hotel at Middleton Beach and I'm hopeful a developer will come on board soon, particularly as the WA economy continues to improve."
As stated by Albany MLA Peter Watson:
"It's important to Albany's long-term economic and social growth that a landmark hotel be established at Middleton Beach.
"The EOI process for a hotel developer was launched during tough market conditions but the door remains open to potential buyers with concept hotel development plans.
"Our priority is to deliver a new high-quality hotel, in line with community expectations at the iconic Middleton Beach site and I'll be working with the Minister, LandCorp and the City of Albany on ways to attract a developer."
