New city landmark under way

The first physical works for the upcoming Albany waterfront Hilton Hotel will begin today, in a major step towards Albany’s biggest development in years.

At 1pm, project leaders and local government representatives are set to ceremonially mark the beginning of development for a $17 million, 108-room hotel on the marina.

Once built, it will be Albany’s only hotel, and the first of the Garden Inn brand in WA.

Businessman and project leader Paul Lionetti declined to comment ahead of the event, but plans included designs for a five-storey hotel with a modern appearance, bar and restaurant, residents’ gym, two shops and 120 parking bays. Mr Lionetti co-owns the next door Due South Tavern and a nearby supermarket.

He bought the land from LandCorp for $1.5 million in May 2016 on the condition development of a hotel began by May this year.

Uncertainty arose over whether the project could meet that deadline after delays at local government and planning approval levels.

It received unanimous support at a meeting of the Southern Joint Development Asssessment Panel in Perth in January.

As part of the original conditions, the project was required to be completed by May, 2021.

Once built, it will be Albany’s first hotel since the Esplanade Hotel was demolished in 2007.

It is also ahead of the State Government-pushed proposed hotel in Middleton Beach, which in April had not received any acceptable offers from developers since entering the market in mid-2018.