Minister rejects permit extension for Hotel Windsor

The State Government is refusing to budge on a permit extension for the Hotel Windsor redevelopment.

Hotel owner Adi Halim says they lost one year of the two year permit trying to get heritage approval.

He says there is not enough time to start the project before the permit expires in November.

Mr Halim says if the extension is not granted he will have to close the hotel and cancel over 50 weddings.

"There are a lot of people involved in that, a lot of businesses, weddings, that we don't want to stuff around, to be honest," he told ABC local radio.

"Our focus now is to save the permit. So if we have to, we'll start in November."

But Planning Minister Matthew Guy says he never agreed with the original plan, which was approved by the previous Labor government.

"What harm is done by granting an extension? It's tacit support for the original permit and I don't support the original permit and that's very clear," he told ABC local radio.

"There is a legal permit that is in place and I can't and won't interfere with what is a legally binding permit."

"The developer has that permit and they can exercise it, but I won't be extending it."

Mr Halim admits he expected they would be granted a routine extension on the permit.

"I'm very disappointed with the reaction because extending a permit is a very simple process," he said.

"We have a valid reason. We didn't have enough time."

Source: ABC News, 20 July 2012