Resort plan push

By Dion Teasdale
CONSTRUCTION of a $10 million five-star eco-tourism resort is set to get under way in Healesville in the next eight weeks, according to the developer behind the project.
The as-yet-unnamed resort, to be built opposite the Healesville Sanctuary, will feature 37 one, two and three-bedroom self-contained bush spa cabins, and will be able to accommodate up to 120 people.
Other proposed facilities include a contemporary Australian restaurant and bar, conference and reception facilities, tennis courts, a pool and a gym, and a commercial art gallery.
The development, which will be constructed in stages over an 18-month period, will be built on the site of the former Galeena Beek Aboriginal Cultural Centre, which closed in 2000.
The site had previously been earmarked for the construction of the $15 million, four-and-a-half-star indigenous tourism development known as Bundjel.
Bundjel was to have 37 cabins, a bush-tucker restaurant, an Aboriginal art gallery and museum, and an indigenous botanical garden.
The project was scrapped in May last year after the previous developer, Justin Gamble, was unsuccessful in negotiating a long-term lease for the site.
Melbourne-based property developer Steve Mitrovski has now signed a 99-year lease with the owners of the site, Galeena Beek Properties.
“Everything is signed, everything is sorted out, everyone is happy,” Mr Mitrovski said.
“I’ve got all the planning approvals in place and I hope to start construction in the next two months.”
Mr Mitrovski said the development would create employment for up to 30 locals, and the resort would also employ a number of local Aboriginal people.
He said he hoped the resort’s restaurant would be open before Christmas and that the first instalment of cabins would be open for business in six months.
The resort will be Mr Mitrovski’s first development project in the Yarra Valley and he said he was looking forward to making a contribution to the local tourist industry. “The resort has the perfect location and it will be a great place for families to come and stay, for people to get married, for businesses to have conferences,” he said.
A Galeena Beek Properties Limited spokesman said the resort development was an investment in the long-term future of the local indigenous community.
“There will be an income stream from the lease that will enable us to provide better programs, resources and facilities for local Aboriginal people.
“There will also be employment and training opportunities for local Aboriginal people at the resort, and the native indigenous vegetation of the land will be maintained and enhanced,” he said.
He said the museum displays currently on the site, depicting the history of Corranderk Aboriginal Station, would be removed, but could be reinstalled.
Despite its enthusiasm for the project to proceed, the Shire of Yarra Ranges is waiting to see more details of the project before giving the final go-ahead.
The shire’s community relations manager, James Martin, said he was surprised to hear that Mr Mitrovski hoped to commence construction in two months.
“Our planning department hasn’t received detailed drawings for the development yet and therefore approval to start construction hasn’t been given.
“We need Mr Mitrovski to furnish us with the final details of what he is proposing,” he said.
Mr Mitrovski said architects were in the process of finalising the drawings for the building work.