Hotel mogul Jerry Schwartz is offering free accommodation for those left homeless by the recent bushfires at his Cessnock motel while he works to make a set of recently acquired cabins compliant for those requiring longer term accommodation.
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Dr Schwartz, who owns hotels across Sydney, the Blue Mountains and the Hunter, including Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley, provided similar temporary accommodation to those left homeless by the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires.
"Everyone has to do their bit. I'm in the accommodation business and this is an opportunity for me to contribute," he said.
"I sent eight demountables to Marysville in 2009. It takes about a year to rebuild a house but some people stayed in them for three years."
The six rooms he is providing at the Cessnock Airport Motel, are a temporary measure to help bushfire victims while he works to make a 32 cabins compliant with relevant regulations.
Dr Schwartz recently transported the former mining cabins from North Queensland to land adjacent Crowne Plaza with the aim of establishing a cultural farm with the area's indigenous owners Wonnarua Nation.
"The idea is that they will be available for cultural activities as well as school groups who will be able to stay in them," he said.
The bushfire crisis prompted Dr Schwartz to offer the self-contained cabins as emergency accommodation to fire victims, however, he was advised late last year the cabin development was not compliant.
Cessnock Council advised Dr Schwartz on Wednesday, that while it was supportive of his gesture, he would need an approved development before the cabins could be offered to bushfire victims.
The process is expected to take about six weeks.
A Cessnock Council spokesperson said staff had a positive meeting with Dr Schwartz and were looking forward to receiving his development application, which is expected to be lodged next week.
Meanwhile, Dr Schwartz said he was looking forward to submitting a development application for another Hunter project - the Newcastle Post Office redevelopment - in the near future.
"There is still a bit of asbestos to clear out and we have been stripping lead paint from walls so it can be used again," he said.
Matthew Kelly
Matthew Kelly has worked as a journalist for more than 25 years. He has been working as a general reporter at the Newcastle Herald since 2018. In recent years he has reported on subjects including environment, energy, water security, manufacturing and higher education. He has previously covered issues including the health and environmental impacts of uncovered coal wagons in the Hunter Valley, the pollution of legacy of former industrial sites and freedom of information issues.
Matthew Kelly has worked as a journalist for more than 25 years. He has been working as a general reporter at the Newcastle Herald since 2018. In recent years he has reported on subjects including environment, energy, water security, manufacturing and higher education. He has previously covered issues including the health and environmental impacts of uncovered coal wagons in the Hunter Valley, the pollution of legacy of former industrial sites and freedom of information issues.
