Plans for new hotel and function centre for Byron Bay
Plans have been submitted to build a 146-room hotel, function centre and retail premises in the heart of Byron in NSW.
The $40 million plans for Essence of Byron by developer Mercato also propose putting a private rooftop pool and bar on the three-storey building that takes it more than 20 per cent above the 11.5m height limit for central Byron.
“This is a game changer for Byron because we don’t have any really big hotels like this in town,” Councillor Cate Coorey told The Echo.
However, Coorey also are questioned the need to build higher than the rules allow.
“Council recently consulted with the community about increasing height limits in the centre of town and the feedback was clear – people don’t want it,” she said.
“They’re using the fact that we allowed the Mercato shopping centre to go over the height limit to justify going over it again here.
“I opposed that decision at the time and I think this shows that it was a mistake because it set a precedent.”
Sheridan Randall, 2nd May 2019
