The onsite hotel planned for the Gold Coast Airport precinct is one step closer this week with the release of the Preliminary Draft Major Development Plan (PDMDP) and the beginning of public consultation.

The draft plan maps out the proposed construction of a $50 million Rydges branded hotel, with up to 200 rooms, meeting/conference facilities, a roof top bar, resort-style swimming pool and a restaurant.

GCA Chief Operating Officer Marion Charlton said she was excited about the major project, which would enhance the appeal of the airport as a destination, moving forward to the next stage.

“We wanted to develop an iconic hotel that improved convenience and amenity for passengers and visitors to the local region,” she said.

The hotel forms part of a broader property strategy underpinned by GCA’s parent company Queensland Airports Limited (QAL).

QAL Executive General Manager Property and Infrastructure Carl Bruhn said the organisation had several projects underway on the southern Gold Coast and in northern New South Wales.

“By 2037, GCA is forecast to have 16.6 million passenger movements a year. Our long-term property strategy aims to develop land on airport and our external sites, to cater for that growth over the next 20 years,” he said.

“Master planning on the former Border Park Raceway site is progressing and plans are underway to lodge a development application for Wollemi Place.”

Prominent developer and experienced hotel operator John ‘Foxy’ Robinson, who is leading the hotel development, believes it will be amongst the most successful airport hotels in Australia.

“The hotel project at Gold Coast Airport is especially exciting because of its unique location,” he said.

“Although this is my first commercial investment on the Gold Coast I have built several airport hotels and accommodation venues, and I’m confident it will be the most successful airport related project I’ve developed to date.”

Public consultation commences tomorrow (Tuesday 6 February 2018) and closes 5pm Friday 4 May 2018.

Stakeholders and community members are invited to make submissions about the PDMDP during this period via the online submission form on the GCA website or in writing to the Chief Operating Officer, PO Box 112, Coolangatta QLD 4225. The PDMDP will be available for download free of charge as of tomorrow, from the GCA website https://goldcoastairport.com.au/corporate/regulatory/hotel-preliminary-draft-major-development-plan/.

After the 60 business-day public consultation period, submissions received from stakeholders and the community will be incorporated into a revised Draft MDP and submitted to the Federal Government for consideration.

Work is expected to commence on the hotel development before the end of the year.

Gold Coast Airport is owned and operated by QAL, a regional airport specialist also operating Townsville, Mount Isa and Longreach Airports.