Tavern owners seek high rise approval

The Hungry Hollow tavern is set to be redeveloped to include short-stay and residential accommodation as well as a restaurant, reception centre and shop if the site’s owners gain rezoning approval from the Bunbury City Council.

The pub’s owners and licensees, Technotron Investments, have asked the council to “initiate” a rezoning to enable the comprehensive redevelopment of the site for mixed tourism uses.

The council will be briefed on the proposal tonight and is expected to make a decision at a meeting on February 4.

The owners have applied for a building height of 18 metres, six metres higher than the maximum building heights of adjacent lots on Ocean Drive.

Council planning officers have recommended the council not support the 18-metre building height because it is not consistent with the “desired” heights of buildings in the area.

The proposal would boost the tourist facilities at the site which is considered in line the council’s objectives for Ocean Drive — to provide a range of short stay tourist accommodation with ocean orientation and easy access to the beach.

The council’s Back Beach Tourism Precinct Plan is gearing the development of the area towards tourism-based activities.

Planning officers noted the site, on the corner of Ocean Drive and William Street, was on a prominent corner and provided an opportunity to develop a “landmark building”.

“It is acknowledged that ‘corner expressions’ provide for the opportunity for architectural expression through the use of distinctive built form, ” council staff noted in the council agenda.

The Hungry Hollow restaurant was established in 1963 and was later bought by Technotron Investments in 1996.

If approved, the proposal will go out to public comment for 42 days before returning to the council for the final tick of approval.

The decision will then go to the WA Planning Commission for endorsement and final approval is made by the Minister for Planning.

The council’s plans for the area from the Lighthouse Beach Resort to Fawlty Towers, include a mix of accommodation such as motels and hotels, public open space and residential use.

The council hopes a more vibrant tourist area will create an asset for the Bunbury community and economy.