Quinlivan Files Updated Hotel Plans

Developer Stan Quinlivan has filed fresh plans for the redevelopment of Cottesloe’s Ocean Beach Hotel in Western Australia.

The Perth-based businessman has tried several times to gain approval for the redevelopment the 115-year old hotel at 140 Marine Parade. 

The current plans have an estimated $220-million gross development value and therefore must be lodged with the state development assessment unit instead of with council. They are currently on public exhibition.

The Hillam Architects-designed plans are for two 12-storey towers and one 10-storey tower comprising 204 apartments and 121 hotel rooms, and includes the demolition of the existing building on the site.

The plans detail a total floor area of 44,165sq m with 11 food and beverage tenancies and 1860sq m of commercial space.

There are 429 residents' car parking bays and 227 bicycle bays plus 140 car parking bays for commercial tenants and the hotel.

Previous versions of the plans lodged in 2020 included 229 apartments, 167 hotel rooms and 775 car parking bays with 10-storey towers.

The Ocean Beach Hotel has long been a popular those moving to Perth from WA’s regions for work in the city as well as visitors to the city.

As many homes in the suburb enjoy beach views, residents and the council have long opposed high-rise buildings in Cottlesloe.

The state development application unit will assess the applications on behalf of the WA Planning Commission and consult with the Town of Cottlesloe and other stakeholders.

The Ocean Beach Hotel property is owned by Quinlivan and other members of his family via a group of eight different Quinlivan-owned companies, according to ASIC data.

The businessman also owns the regional Skippers Airlines, which runs flights between WA’s mining regions and Perth for FIFO workers, and general freight and courier company Skippers Transport. 

Other suburbs fronting the coastline such as Nedlands, Claremont and Scarborough are all seeing an increase in luxury high-rise apartment developments. 

Cottesloe Residents and Ratepayers Association chief executive and former councillor Greg Boland said that the approval of Gary Dempsey's apartment plans for 120 Marine Parade has incentivised other developers, including Quinlivan, to lodge applications with the state development application unit (SDAU). 

"It's been through various proposals over the years," Boland said.

"This is just the latest.

"It's probably seen the opportunity to go higher to 12 storeys because of
 the decision to allow a particular project along Marine Parade—120 Marine Parade was approved at seven storeys instead of the limit of five."

Alhough council's height limit was five storeys, the 120 Marine Parade proposal initially included 10 storeys and was finally approved for seven storeys by the WAPC through the SDAU process. 

The council opted not to appeal against the decision. Since then the Ocean Beach Hotel proposal, as well as the Seapines proposal for the corner of Johnson Street and Marine Parade and a seven-storey proposal for 122 Marine Parade, have been lodged with the SDAU. 

Also in Cottesloe, Andrew "Twiggy" Forrest’s Tattarang’s property arm Fiveight has recently filed plans with the Town of Cottesloe to redevelop the iconic Indiana Tea House and to build a three-storey hotel opposite it. 

The council is currently weighing up independent advice on the design as well as a motion to dismiss the plans.