More information has been unveiled about the region’s first five-star resort in three decades.
Development approval for The Calile Noosa, at a 2.4ha site at 3-7 Serenity Close in Noosa Heads, was granted this week after a two-year process involving community consultations and council recommendations.
Works are set to start early next year and the resort is expected to be built over three years, via designer Richard’s & Spence and construction company Buildcorp.
The Calile co-owner and Calile Malouf Investments director Michael Malouf spoke for the first time about the approval and said the resort will be a great fit for the area.
“We worked collaboratively with the Noosa Council and fine-tuned the scheme to ensure we addressed the planning scheme and community expectations,” he said.
“Resort sites are often at risk of being ceded to multinational hotel companies who impose incongruous designs and standards upon the local community.
“By contrast, The Calile is a home-grown Southeast Queensland brand with an implicit understanding of the local culture, climate, community, demographic and attributes.”
A media release outlined some of the resort’s features.
It will comprise of 153 rooms, 29 suites and 4 villas.
It will be embedded in a bushland setting, with spacious, proportioned facilities, including a 50m main swimming pool plus a second quiet pool in a private garden setting, and comprehensive wellness facilities and function spaces.
All hotel rooms will be generously sized with the standard room being a minimum of 45sqm and a range of larger suites.
There will also be three-bedroom villas for family or group bookings.
The Calile stated that it is committed to local community and sustainability, and quality service.
The development will target carbon neutral operations as part of its broader sustainability strategy.
Meanwhile, Noosa mayor Frank Wilkie commended CFI’s revised development application.
“These amended plans are one of the best examples we’ve seen of quality-over-quantity development,” he said.
“The changes have removed development from the environmental management and conservation zone, increased landscaping setbacks to Serenity Close to reduce the impact on surrounding residents, a reduced number of units, more onsite carparking, more landscaping and retention of more natural vegetation.
“This is a massive improvement on the existing approval and the development is now fully sited in the tourist accommodation zone.
“The way they have worked with council’s professional planning staff to achieve the best possible outcome for this site sets a benchmark.
“It shows that when you have a developer that is willing to work with us, we can achieve great quality development outcomes without sacrificing our town plan.
“This development is fully aligned with the intent of the planning scheme, which has always seen this site set aside for a five-star resort.
“This outcome is a win for the community, a win for local tourism and our economy.”
“Furthermore, it is well documented that South-East Queensland requires an additional 20,000 rooms to adequately service the 2032 Olympic Games. The approval of this resort will assist to fulfil some of this demand whilst also aligning with the Noosa brand attracting high-value international and domestic visitors,” Cr Wilkie said.
“This development will raise the standard of short-term of accommodation across the region and is anticipated to absorb demand for high-end short-term accommodation that is currently occurring in residential areas.”
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