By Mikayla van Loon
A new hotel has been approved by Yarra Ranges Council to be built at St Huberts Winery in Coldstream.
The four storey, 80 bedroom residential hotel’s planning application was unanimously approved by the council at the meeting on Tuesday 7 December with Councillor Fiona McAllister calling it a “substantial but needed development.”
St Huberts was one of the first wineries in the Yarra Valley to open in the 1800s and in March 2020 had plans approved to redevelop the restaurant and function centre.
Melinda Catlow spoke on behalf of Yarra Valley Wine Centre who own and operate the winery and vineyard and said the same architect has designed the concept for the hotel to suit the landscape.
“It’s in response to the identified need for accommodation in the area and similar to the previous application, it has sought to use the principles of seeking to locate the architecture within the landscape,” she said.
“This development is actually located in a section of the site which is significantly screened by existing rows of trees, it’s also viewed at a distance from the Maroondah Highway and viewed within the context of trees in the foreground.”
Mr Catlow said there would be an insignificant loss of the vineyards, with just 0.43 per cent being removed from the total 67 per cent of vineyards that occupy the land.
The accommodation facility will feature hotel suites with a pool, spa treatment area and internal restaurant, as well as electric vehicle charging points, a gym and other recreational experiences.
Ms Catlow said once the accommodation premise is built, it will provide 30 jobs with 20 being full time positions, with jobs also being created during the construction phase.
Councillor McAllister supported the motion to approve the development but raised a question about traffic management and safety.
In response Ms Catlow said the current passing lane conditions on St Huberts Road will be extended to the entrance of the hotel and VicRoads has confirmed no changes need to be made to the entrance off Maroondah Highway.
Cr Sophie Todorov seconded the motion and said she felt comfortable that the four objections had been revised and appropriately resolved.
“This development is not only fantastic for our community, our tourism, our economic stimulation as well but it’s also very environmentally sustainable and it has been well thought out and planned,” she said.
This was the second hotel application approved by the council in one night, with an accommodation facility also approved for nearby Levantine Hill.
“We don’t often get applications of this type and we’ve coincidentally had two,” Cr McAllister said.
“This is an allowed use in terms of the provisions under green wedge. It is co-location in a vineyard and cellar door and as we have heard tonight it is a property that has existed in the Yarra Valley for over 150 years.”
Although Cr McAllister was sad to see the famous St Huberts signage removed from the roof of the original building she said it sighted progress.
“It’s 80 rooms and again we do have a dire need for accommodation of this type in the Yarra Valley,” she said.
“Probably my greatest concern, and I certainly support the application, is around traffic safety and it’s not only for this applicant but it’s probably an advocacy issue for us as a council over the intersection of Maroondah Highway and St Huberts Road.”
Cr McAllister said her fellow councillors could expect a motion next to advocate for better traffic management from VicRoads at the intersection.
