Hotel Development for FESA House in Perth
In a groundbreaking move designed to help ease Perth’s chronic shortage of hotel rooms, the State Government has released two new city sites for hotel development. Tourism Minister Kim Hames said the site was comprised of FESA House at 480 Hay Street and the Perth Chest Clinic on Murray Street at the east end of the city.
Announcing the call for Registrations of Interest (ROI) earlier this week, Dr Hames said it was the first site released under the Government’s new hotel incentives package announced last year.
“Perth desperately needs more hotel rooms, with the average annualised occupancy rate of 85.43 per cent, the highest in the nation,” he said.
Western Australia is currently the only State in Australia that offers hotel development incentives. They include provision of Crown land at reduced market rates, flexible floor space bonuses and infrastructure grants.
“This is a prime site in the central business district consisting of more than 7,300 square metres over three lots, and we are very confident it will attract a lot of interest from developers,” the Minister said.
“It’s hoped the successful developer will be announced by the end of the year.”
Dr Hames said several other Government sites were currently being assessed for possible hotel development under the incentive scheme.
Staff currently working in FESA House will be gradually moved into the agency’s new headquarters in Cockburn by the end of the year.
Image Courtesy of Tourism Australia
Source: Accommodation Association of Australia, 30 May 2012
