$20m hotel works to start in August

Works are finally due to begin on a controversial Pilbara hotel development this August, more than six months after the originally scheduled start date.

Construction of a $20 million Hilton Garden Inn, at The Quarter in the Karratha CBD, was originally slated for the beginning of the year, but property developer Pacifica Developments did not start designs until the end of January.

The 100-room hotel project is a joint initiative between the City of Karratha and Pacifica, which lodged its development application earlier this month.

It is understood the setback in designs was caused by delays in the sale of land at The Quarter from LandCorp to the City.

Pacifica director John Zendler said the deal was with the City, rather than LandCorp, meaning designs could not start until the sale of the land had gone through.

“It took a lot longer than expected for the City to complete their deal with LandCorp,” he said.

“That sale only got executed three days before the Christmas break and you lose January in the construction industry, so we were only in a position to start designing at the end of January.”

LandCorp Pilbara regional manager Brad Pawlenko said there was nothing out of the ordinary with the sale. “With any land sale, contracts go back and forth and it takes a bit of time,” he said.

“There were small changes that needed to be worked out.”

City Mayor Peter Long said once Pacifica’s development application was approved by the council, it would be considered by the Pilbara Joint Development Assessment Panel later this month.

“The latest internal and external designs for the project that have been shown to council show a modern hotel that aligns with council’s vision for the Karratha city centre,” he said.

“The City understands that these types of projects are complex to deliver and is not concerned by the initial delay.”

The hotel is due to open for business by the middle of next year, given construction begins in August as planned.