A multi-million dollar hot springs and resort development could help change the face of the region’s tourism industry, Corangamite Shire councillors say.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The council approved the 12 Apostles Hot Springs and Resort, to be located on Booringa Road about 1.2-kilometres from the Twelve Apostles Visitor Information Centre, at its meeting on Tuesday.
Rocdon Development director Don Musto said the project would be built over three stages and include a low-rise main building, a series of modular hot springs bathing facilities, a wellness centre and restaurant. Thirty of 150 accommodation pods would be built in the first stage.
The 78-hectare site will have on-site parking and a nursery to help re-vegetate the site, as well as a kitchen garden and sustainability inclusions such as solar panels.
Mr Musto said the development would encourage visitors to the region over the winter period.
“Hot spring bathing is more suited to cold weather, so this combined with the wellness centre will encourage all-year-round multi-day visitation from both international and domestic visitors, which will reduce seasonality and increase time and money spent in the region,” he said.
“This is a game-changer for the Twelve Apostles. Our hot springs model will bring more business to the area in winter when it has historically been quieter.”
In supporting the development, councillor Ruth Gstrein said the design was cutting edge and sympathetic to the site.
“This is what we need along the coast. This is what Corangamite Shire needs to encourage people to stay and increase the yield of tourism,” she said.
“This could be the beginning of a very strong tourism future around the Port Campbell and Great Ocean Road areas.”
Cr Lesley Brown said it was a thoughtful design that would offer visitors another attraction on the coast.
“As a premium tourist destination the Twelve Apostles is, at the moment, underdone,” she said.
“This development will offer them (tourists) something else and something special and encourage them to stay and enjoy the area.”
Cr Helen Durant said it was an ambitious project that would encourage overnight stays and break the “deadly day-trip cycle we seem to be stuck with”.
“This sort of tourism product has been sorely lacking in Corangamite,” she said.
Cr Simon Illingworth described the project as “very, very clever”.
“This development and the way it has been put forward should be studied by all developers along our coastline.”
He said the development would not only be a plus for tourism, but also nearby inland towns where it would add to employment opportunities, increase property prices and lead to population increases.
Two objections were received to the plan. Speaking before the meeting, John Curran said the development would abut his property on three sides.
“We knew this land had C30 approval since 2011 and some small scale development could occur at some stage. Never did we think a complex of this magnitude was going to be proposed at this site,” he said.
Cr Neil Trotter said he felt for the Currans. “The circumstances of this development will impact on them,” he said.
Councillors said the 60 conditions and sub-clauses attached to the approval would go a long way to alleviating concerns.
