Community consultation begins on Saracen Properties’ proposed five-star $118 million Gnarabup Beach resort

The public can now have its say on a property giant’s proposal to build a $118 million five-star beachside resort and village near Margaret River. The Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage on Thursday officially opened community consultation for Saracen Properties’ application to construct the Westin Margaret River Resort and Spa and village at Gnarabup Beach. The private development would see the hotel erected at the townsite, containing 121 rooms — which would include king, studio and family rooms and a presidential suite — as well as a pool, spa, gym, function centre, restaurant and bar. The project would also see construction of the Gnarabup Village, just south of the hotel, which would include 51 beach houses, 25 apartments, four townhouses and a general store and cafe. It comes as the WA Environmental Protection Authority last month confirmed the proposal would be subject to a separate high-level review because it had been earmarked as an area of “high biodiversity.” The Saracen Properties application states the resort, which would be operated by the global Marriott Group, would complete the “missing market segment” in the South West for high-end tourist accommodation and a five-star hotel product. “Development of the site will fulfill the long anticipated and planned use of the land, addressing a missing segment of the tourism industry,” it states. Premier Mark McGowan, who joined developer Luke Saraceni in first unveiling the plans in June 2020, previously said the “very exciting project” would attract tourists and be a “great addition to the local tourism infrastructure.” Interested community members have been invited to view the plans and make submissions on the DPLH website and will have until March 2 to have their say. Augusta-Margaret River Shire sustainable development and infrastructure director Nick Logan said although the organisation was not the decision-maker in the case, it had been asked to provide a detailed assessment against its local planning framework. He said it would aid the WA Planning Commission in its determination of the proposal. “The Shire is working closely with the Department to maximise opportunities for the local community to have their say,” he said. The proposed development has faced scrutiny from protest group Preserve Gnarabup since it was first flagged because of the area’s “fragile and vulnerable” environment. The group welcomed the separate EPA review and said it would have been “irresponsible” for the application to proceed without it. A DPLH planner will be based at Shire offices from February 7 to 11.