By MATT NICHOLLS
A $10 MILLION motel development at the Armidale Ex-Services Club appears likely after a positive meeting between Armidale Dumaresq Council and club representatives on Monday night.
Servies CEO Scott Sullivan spoke for five minutes about his desire to comply with planning and floodplain legislation to ensure the proposed motel could be built on the club’s land.
Mr Sullivan also answered questions from councillors for 30 minutes.
After three years of making no progress, it appears there is light at the end of the tunnel for the Ex-Services Club proposal.
Mr Sullivan told councillors the club had spent more than $300,000 on the project thus far, but did so in the hope the development would go ahead.
Under new legislation, the proposed motel must have an adequate emergency exit in case of a one-in-100-year flood, due to the proximity of the club to Dumaresq Creek.
Deciding exactly how the evacuation point would be built has been the point of contention.
Mr Sullivan said the club was unwilling to build a bridge or walkway to Armidale Plaza as there was potential in the long-term for the plaza to shut or change hands.
The motel wouldn’t meet safety regulations if emergency access could be cut off by the plaza’s closure, he said.
Councillor Colin Gadd said to Mr Sullivan that “every councillor in this room wants to see the development go ahead”, and would continue to work with Servies to get an outcome.
More work will be done by the Ex-Services Club and Armidale Dumaresq Council staff to come up with a solution.
Mr Sullivan said he was pleased with how the meeting went and was hopeful the motel would eventually be built.
