First stage of Frenchman Bay tourism venture set to scrutinised by Regional Development Panel

A development application for tourism accommodation at Frenchman Bay has been submitted for assessment by the Regional Joint Development Assessment Panel.

The application, submitted on December 21, is for short-stay holiday accommodation valued at $5 million on lots 1 and 2 Frenchman Bay Road.

The site has been the subject of numerous proposed tourism ventures since the Frenchman Bay Caravan Park closed in 2006 after nearly 50 years of operation.

The latest application is from Paul King, who pre-empted it by seeking support from the City of Albany to amend the local development plan to allow for a two-stage luxury tourism offering.

When the council granted his request in December 2022, Mr King told the Advertiser he was “delighted” by the “strong support” from councillors and that architects would be appointed for stage one in 2023.

Documents submitted at the time indicated stage one of the development would be planned as a lodge with 10-12 bedrooms and recreational amenities.

The City of Albany will put the development application out to public comment before preparing a recommendation and report for the JDAP meeting, which will be held later this year.

It is one of two tourism accommodations developments in Albany awaiting a date to be considered by the regional JDAP.

The development of an eight-storey hotel at Binalup/Middleton Beach was advertised for public comment in November and is scheduled to be considered in coming months.