The Expression of Interest period for proposed development applications for Eden’s Hotel Australasia formally closed last Wednesday November 30, and the Bega Valley Shire Council confirmed this week that submissions have been received.
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BVSC general manager Leanne Barnes told the Magnet on Tuesday that “council received submissions and these are being assessed and prepared for consideration” at the next council meeting on December 14.
“The Business Paper for the meeting on December 14 will be available later this week,” Ms Barnes said.
“I am not in a position to provide you any further details at this time.”
Councillor Tony Allen has been against spending ratepayers’ money on the hotel but was tight-lipped when asked for comment.
“I haven’t seen any submissions yet,” Mr Allen said on Tuesday.
“And we can’t make comments prior to submissions being assessed; that’s a confidential process.”
Councillor Sharon Tapscott, publically against the sale of the hotel – which is currently owned by the council – was more vocal.
We can’t throw the baby out with the bathwater.
- Cr Sharon Tapscott
”We will have to go through those tenders very carefully,” Ms Tapscott said. “It’s a very significant piece of land and many developers will want to get their hands on it at a bargain basement price.”
Ms Tapscott said the hotel should remain council property, and tenders should be assessed based on their readiness to work with council on caveats and subdivision options necessary for use by the community.
“We need to explore all options before giving over a priceless piece of real estate to a developer,” she said.
Eden’s Australasia president Peter Whiter is on tenterhooks as his committee finds out the results of the EOI, after many months of fundraising efforts to help develop the hotel under council ownership.
“We would like to liaise with whoever is the successful applicant, if indeed there is one chosen; the council may reject all the submissions,” Mr Whiter said.
“We would be happy to work with any submission winner, in any capacity, if they would like our input into heritage values or items to do with the job.”
