$20m Nelson Bay marina resort approved

Port Stephens councillors voted unanimously to approve a redevelopment of the Marina Resort, which will include two towers – seven and eight storeys high respectively.

Cr John Nell said the plan "shows there’s a future for Nelson Bay", adding the area was "a bit quiet at the moment".

"Hopefully it gives others confidence to invest in Nelson Bay," he said.

Spokesman for the developer, Chan Industrial director Anton Chan, described the decision as fantastic, saying he hoped construction would begin within two years.

The approval includes 70 four-star apartments, a 400-seat conference room, a pool and health spa.

A five-storey building on the site will be demolished to make way for the new project.

Cr John Morello said the Bay had "put a lot of roadblocks in front of developers over the years".

"We need more development to get people in," Cr Morello said. "We rely so much on tourism."

A council report said the Magnus Street plan’s effect on the Nelson Bay landscape, loss of views and overshadowing on adjoining properties were key concerns.

The report said the development would ‘‘obstruct the majority of views’’ from the four-storey Portside Apartments.

Cr Nell felt sorry for the people affected, but said the loss of views was inevitable.

Councillor Ken Jordan said he supported the plan, but would have preferred higher buildings.

The report said the developer had previously sought buildings as high as 10 and 11 storeys on the site, but was rebuffed.

The approved plan’s top two to three storeys would ‘‘protrude above the tree line’’, the report said.

While it was ‘‘important to maintain the tree line’’, the report said the effects of ‘‘this individual development do not warrant refusal’’.

However, it added that ‘‘further development at this height would be likely to significantly reduce the visual amenity of Nelson Bay’’.

Council staff recommended approval, saying any negative effects would not be unreasonable.