MEDIA RELEASE 24.05.2020 - CHAMBER BACKS NEW TOURIST DEVELOPMENT APPROVAL

The Peninsula Chamber of Commerce has welcomed Central Coast Council’s decision last night to approve the $15M 83 room boutique hotel development at Ettalong Beach after broad support from Councillors.

“This is a great decision that will further boost Ettalong Beach and the tourism market on the Peninsula”, said Peninsula Chamber President Matthew Wales.

“The Chamber supports this hotel development in recognition of its strategic value to the village centre and potential to create a significant number of local jobs both during the construction process and its ongoing operation”.

“Council should be congratulated for its support of the developer Longbeach Living Pty Living and local business community”, said Matthew Wales.

“At a time when the Peninsula business community needs confidence to be restored in our local centres, this development could not have occurred at more appropriate time”.

“It has all the right elements to provide business confidence, inject significant developer capital into the local area and provide a framework for jobs and training into the future especially in a post-COVID environment”, said Matthew Wales.

“With 83 boutique hotel rooms, ancillary restaurant, bar and function facilities, it is considered that this development meets and important strategic objectives for Ettalong Beach by providing high quality short term accommodation and supporting facilities that underpin Ettalong’s role as a local tourist destination location”.

“The industry has long complained that our prime tourist locations lack high quality hotel and tourist accommodation and that existing infrastructure has not been supplemented by new investment”, said Matthew Wales.

“The Chamber has lobbied Council and the NSW State Government for many years to provide an environment for private tourism investment in the local area. In recent years, the Council has committed significant funds to the Ettalong Beach foreshore improvements which have proved to be incredibly popular and successful”.

“This investment by the Council, NSW State Government and the Federal Government has partly contributed to the applicant’s confidence in the hotel project”, said Matthew Wales.

“The hotel proposal promotes high levels of on-street activity by providing a ground floor restaurant/café that provides continuity of glazed windows and indoor/outdoor dining options. This is an important element that ensures that street activity is encouraged and compliments similar treatments in the adjoining Atlantis development”.

“The proposal also enhances the pedestrian links between the town centre and the beachfront”, said Matthew Wales.

“The Peninsula Chamber of Commerce commends the applicant and their architect for producing a high quality innovative proposal that meets the growing need on the Peninsula for tourism related development that will produce long term job opportunities especially for our younger people. Our organisation strongly encourages Council to support this application and re-inforce its commitment to the revitalisation and growth of the Ettalong Beach village centre”.