Hotel's Greatest Chance

Newcastle Herald

Tuesday December 23, 2008

JACQUI JONES CIVIC

THE city will grant a developer a $24,699 incentive to get started on renovating the rundown, heritage-listed Great Northern Hotel

The project, worth up to $30 million, will create new bars, restaurants and 92 hotel rooms in the iconic Newcastle property.

An eight-storey extension will go on vacant land to the east of the Scott and Watt streets corner block.

Newcastle City Council has granted development approval and will waive a one-off $24,699 fee that would otherwise be charged because its balconies protrude over public land.

The exemption is permitted because of the building's heritage status and comes with a condition that the project must begin within three years.

Cr Sharon Claydon said the city needed to do as much as it could to ensure approved developments got to construction phase.

Hotel owner Kurt Braune said yesterday that work on stage one was scheduled to start in early 2009, with completion expected in October.

He said the waiving of the one-off fee was "definitely an incentive".

He is encouraged by the council's support.

"It is a sign that despite party differences, the council has the sense to unite on important issues like the restoration of one of the city's most treasured heritage items," he said.

Mr Braune said the restored Great Northern would feature water views from almost every room.

He is close to securing a lessee for the accommodation floors.

"It will be an internationally recognised brand offering 3.5 to four-star accommodation," he said.

© 2008 Newcastle Herald

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