‘Alfresco dining’ part of Geocon’s amended plans for $70m Canberra hotel
The plans for a luxury hotel project in Canberra’s Garema Place have been amended to address concerns about overshadowing, parking and noise.
Geocon has submitted its fourth iteration of the nearly $70 million mixed-use development in the city centre.
The new proposal sees the number of apartments cut from 215 to 212, provides more office space to generate day traffic, increases parking to 90 spaces and scales back the upper levels to reduce overshadowing on to Garema Place during mid-winter.
The proposed development will include the hotel, three basement levels and a mezzanine level, including two levels of offices, ground floor restaurants and basement venues for public and private events.
The hotel lobby and an expanded Gus’s Brasserie facing Bunda Street will be a hallmark of the development, with another hotel entrance and eateries on Garema Place. A signature restaurant will be sited on Level 7.
The proposed rooftop will include an external roof terrace, large swimming pool, bar, outdoor lounging and seating areas and outdoor fitness areas including a gymnasium, as well as another restaurant.
“The proposed alfresco dining on Bunda Street and more importantly Garema Place, will transform the space and encourage more activity in this precinct,” the proposal stated.
“The renewed interest from the proposed development will invite pedestrians to come into, move through and most importantly stay within the Garema Place public realm and promote engagement with adjoining shops, cafes, restaurants, bars and businesses.”
Sheridan Randall, 9th July 2019
