Plans for a multi-million dollar hotel redevelopment at Nelson Bay's d'Albora Marina have been met with fierce community opposition, with residents labelling the proposed design an 'ugly' and 'arrogant abomination'.
Community Backlash Erupts at Public Meeting
Close to 250 residents, business owners, former MP Robert Martin, and local councillors packed the Nelson Bay Bowling Club on Monday night to voice their scathing feedback. The community forum, organised with the Tomaree Ratepayers and Residents Association (TRRA), saw developers from MA Financial face a barrage of criticism over their initial proposal for the marina precinct.
The $30 million-plus project, declared state significant, would feature a new 122-room hotel split across the upper floors of a three-building complex. Lower floors are planned to retain public access with hospitality and retail spaces.
Height and Design Labelled 'Out of Character'
The primary concern raised by residents centres on the proposed building heights, which far exceed current planning restrictions. The design includes two buildings at 13.8 metres and a larger five-storey building reaching 16.9 metres.
This is well over the Local Environmental Planning (LEP) restriction of 10.2 metres, a limit the community fought hard to establish. One Corlette resident, Steve, told the forum the design had 'no merit' and was a 'distorted abomination'.
TRRA vice president Ben van der Wijngaart said the association supports rejuvenating the 'tired' marina but opposes the current 'monstrosity'. 'A monstrosity that presents itself 60 per cent over the LEP is not just a minor variation,' he stated.
Broader Impacts and Developer Response
Beyond aesthetics, residents raised practical concerns about parking, construction disruption, and loss of public access. The proposal includes only a modest 44 additional car parks, despite the needs of a 122-room hotel and its visitors.
Local business owner Frank Future of Imagine Cruises highlighted the significant impact prolonged construction would have on tourism-dependent businesses operating from the marina.
Developer representatives acknowledged the community's feedback would be shared with MA Financial before the proposal is formally submitted to the NSW government. They emphasised that green space, native vegetation, and public access to the marina remain priorities.
If approved, demolition and construction are estimated to take three years and could begin in 2027.
