The Chronicle

Wagner’s coast hotel plan

- SCOTT SAWYER

THE reach of a renowned Toowoomba business family is set to grow with a 182-room hotel expected to top $50m planned to end the long-running saga of a prime Mooloolaba property.

Kenneth Wagner’s KPAT Mooloolaba has formally lodged an applicatio­n with the Sunshine Coast Council to build a 13-storey, “4.5–5 star” resort complex on the remainder of the controvers­ial Brisbane Road Carpark site.

The plans revealed a presidenti­al suite, rooftop bar, pool and restaurant as well as ground floor bar and restaurant were earmarked for the project which was also set to feature a day spa, gym, kids club, ballroom and conference facilities.

Mr Wagner, director of KPAT Mooloolaba, said pending approval, the project was on track to start being built in July, 2022.

A constructi­on time of about 18 months was expected with opening tipped to fall in either late-2023 or early-2024.

Mr Wagner said the room count had “increased significan­tly” since a deal was first struck with the council to develop the site, triggered by the ongoing demand for regional accommodat­ion.

Mr Wagner said he was excited to bring the project together on a site that “certainly had an unfortunat­e history” and the project had been a “long time coming” for the community.

More than 120 carparks had been proposed as part of the new hotel complex which was set to have a builder and hotel operator appointed later this year.

The conference capacity had increased by about 50 per cent from the initial plans, and Mr Wagner said the council and KPAT’s design team had been eager to ensure the delivered product was one “that locals will be happy with”.

“The design developmen­t process we’ve been through with the council over the last 12 months has been a fairly productive one,” Mr Wagner said.

He said the project would be “100 per cent hotel” and their business model would be to build and own the asset into the future.

Details of the council’s previous failed deal with Abacus for the Brisbane Road site remained secret and would not be made public until an approval had been given to develop the balance of the property.

 ?? ?? APPLICATIO­N LODGED: KPAT boss Kenneth Wagner wants to develop a new hotel on the remainder of the Brisbane Road Carpark site in Mooloolaba.
APPLICATIO­N LODGED: KPAT boss Kenneth Wagner wants to develop a new hotel on the remainder of the Brisbane Road Carpark site in Mooloolaba.

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