Proposal for hotel at quay rejected

A plan to build a luxury hotel at Elizabeth Quay, one of the first building applications formally lodged as part of the waterfront project, has been knocked back by the City of Perth.

The 11-storey building, proposed at the eastern end of Barrack Square, was deemed too tall and bulky for the site and rejected by the council last night.

Perth Lord Mayor Lisa Scaffidi and Cr James Limnois, who supported the development, were outvoted.

The proposed five-star hotel was refused on the grounds that it would adversely affect the general area because of its "excessive height, bulk and scale" and also diminish the nearby Bell Tower.

Cr Limnois said it was not enough to say that the proposed hotel would impact negatively on the Bell Tower.

"The Bell Tower is way too small - the government of the day pandered to the opinions of a few and today we have a very small Bell Tower," he said.

The State Government's Elizabeth Quay design guidelines allow a maximum tower height of 20 storeys on other parts of Barrack Square and 30 storeys around the inlet.

The council also raised issues about the lack of parking at the site.

The council's recommendation will now be submitted to the Metropolitan Redevelopment Authority, which will report to the Environment Minister for final determination.

Hotel developers Old Perth Port Pty Ltd want a 230-room hotel with four restaurants and two bars.

Old Perth Port managing director Bill Richardson said reducing the size of the development would "lessen the economic effectiveness" of the hotel.

"Currently we have abnormally high demand where hotels can charge exorbitant rates but we need to consider the economic model in normal conditions and for the future," he said.

"If we scaled it back we might be looking at a lesser hotel, maybe two-star instead of five-star.

"We want to build something that fits the changing landscape around the waterfront - something that will still match the physical and economic character of the area in 25 years time."