Canberra luxury apartment complex under fire for acting like a hotel

A high-end service apartment complex is under pressure after claims by Canberra's peak hotel industry group that it is operating as a defacto hotel without proper approval. 

Knightsbridge Canberra markets itself as Canberra's "newest accommodation now taking bookings". But the Australian Hotels Association alleges that owners Quanton Pty Ltd, headed by developer Josip Zivko, are using the land for a commercial purpose, despite only residential use being allowed under the crown lease and planning approvals for the site. 

The association wants to effectively shut down the complex and has asked Access Canberra to issue a "controlled activity order" to the owners of the luxury serviced apartments.

"At the end of the day we felt like we were coming up against a brick wall, so this is the circuit breaker we think we need," the hotels association's ACT general manager, Anthony Brierley told The Canberra Times.

"It seems to be quite flagrant - it's clearly a commercial use. 

"For some reason, the government and the regulator have not been of that opinion and it kind of bewilders us."

Sheridan Randall - 21-08-19