Coogee Bay Hotel revamp postponed … again

The controversial $111 million Coogee Bay Hotel revamp has been postponed yet again. 

The plans lodged in July last year highlight a six storey shop top housing development built at the site where live music venue Selina’s nightclub will be demolished. 

The development featured an eat street, supermarket, ground level retail, 60 residential units and three levels of basement parking, with the heritage-listed hotel and beer garden to be retained. 

A planning panel meeting was initially booked for December but was cancelled when the applicant was ordered to make a change to their plans. The meeting was rescheduled to 17 March, however that meeting did not go ahead, with the NSW Department of Planning and Environment revealing the applicant needed more time to work on design changes in response to issues raised by the council, community, and the panel. 

The criticism levelled at the revamp included the proposed 23.3 metre site being nearly twice the legislated maximum building height and almost 20 per cent over the maximum floor space ratio. 

More than 8000 signatures were put to a petition, as concerned residents said it would block their ocean views. 

Coogee MP Marjorie O’Neill slammed the “atrocious” plans, accusing the planner of threatening the village feel.

Planning legislation deems a panel cannot determine the proposal until the applicant finalises the amendments. They must also be assessed by Randwick City Council.

Irit Jackson, 24^th March 2022