Contentious Fini Group hotel returns for second chance at Shire of Augusta-Margaret River council

A contentious project billed as “Australia’s first net- circular hotel” will be reconsidered by the Shire of Augusta-Margaret River council next week.

Previously reported as abandoning the Fearn Avenue project after going through multiple State planning stages, the Fini Group has opted to take the development back to the local government.

The Times understands the project — which went before the Regional Development Assessment Panel as well as the State Administrative Tribunal — was most favourably considered by local councillors who initially waived parking requirements.

That waiver was central to the storm created about the project, whose proponents argued the bulk of clients would be travelling to the region via bus or by other means and would not be reliant on cars.

The project would redevelop six existing apartments into a 32-room multi-level hybrid hotel with a bar and function space abutting the street across from the Fearn Avenue festival precinct.

Shire planners originally recommended against the project because mandated parking requirements could not be met in the town centre.

The council later dismissed that recommendation but nearby business operators who paid cash in lieu or leases on private carparks to meet requirements complained the developer had received unfair consideration in relying on parking it had not developed itself.

In August last year, the Times reported the Fini Group had pulled the plug on the hotel amid a review of volatility in the tourism market.