Sunshine Coast pets could soon be lapping up holidays with all the creature comforts if plans for a high-end pet resort are approved.
An application has been lodged with Sunshine Coast Council for Paw Seasons Resort and Daycare at Tanawha, which boasts it will be much more than your average kennel.
Dogs and cats will enjoy their own separate rooms in ‘Balinese-style’ villas that have TV, music, reverse-cycle air-conditioning, air purifier, insulation and video surveillance.
Ten private bedrooms in each chalet will open into a shared loungeroom where dogs can interact and luxuriate on extra-soft cushions and fancy furniture.
Each of the chalets will have its own enclosed private courtyard where the animals can wander in and out at their leisure and do their business outside.
The resort will also have two large grassy “run yards”, which are shared play areas, one of which will have a “walk-in, walk-out pool” for doggy paddling and swimming lessons.
One of the exercise yards will be for running and sniffing while the other will cater to more intense agility and stimulation exercises.
Business owner Kristyn Williams, a dog lover, said it was always her dream to open the style of five-star pet resort where she would feel happy leaving her three pooches when the family went on holiday.
Mrs Williams said a big part of the inspiration was her 15-year-old Bichon cross miniature poodle, Loewe, who was her “first born” in her eyes.
The family also has a Moodle named Raffy (almost two) and a toy poodle called Coco (eight months).
Mrs Williams said the facility would “bring the full touch of luxury to pet accommodation”.
This included delicious home-cooked meals “fit for humans”, such as chicken and vegetables, that are prepared on site from local produce.
Mrs Williams said since the boom in pandemic pets, there were now many dogs that were used to being around people working from home all day and they would struggle if they were left at a traditional boarding kennel.
“We saw a large spike in dog purchases and prices skyrocketing with many people working from home and buying dogs and cats, and they’ve become comfortable with the creature comforts of being at home with you,” Mrs Williams said.
“But when travel resumes, I think it’s important dogs are kept in that same environment so when you go on a holiday, they go on a holiday too.
“These days people see pets as part of the family, they’ve become like a child to many of us and we want to be able to give them the creature comforts they have become very much accustomed to so you don’t need to worry,” she said.
“They’re having the time of their life at a pet resort.”
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Mrs Williams said the application proposed five ‘chalets’ for dogs, each with 10 bedrooms. Stage two of the project would be two chalets for cats.
Stage three would include a new reception lounge, grooming studio, pet photographic studio and managers’ residence so the business would become a ‘one-stop shop’ for pet lovers.
The building designs are still being finalised but are envisaged as ‘Balinese-style’ with a pitched roof, veranda out the front, sliding doors at the front and back and a white picket fence.
“The proposed buildings will present similar to a detached dwelling and will incorporate high-end building materials and finishes to create a high-end Balinese style/building design,” states the application.
The resort will have the capacity to accommodate a maximum of 50 small to medium dogs and four large dogs, with prices starting at $40/day for accommodation and $35/day for daycare.
“‘Paw Seasons Resort & Day Care’ will be the business that will operate as the Pet Resort and will try and meet part of the huge demand for pet accommodation options for the Sunshine Coast region, particularly for high-end accommodation and care,” says the application.
“This need has been increased with the COVID-19 pandemic and more owners buying dogs to give comfort in uncertain times.
“It must be noted that the proposal is not similar to a typical kennel form of pet accommodation, as the proposal envisages high-end facilities and features to cater for every need and comfort of the pets residing there.”
The application, lodged by Locality Planning, seeks a material change use of the property in a rural-zoned area of Tanawha.
The property itself is 33 acres and the application states “no vegetation will be cleared” as “the premises and chalet structures are all located within the existing cleared area”.
If approved by council, Mrs Williams said she hoped to have the business open by July but with recent delays it might be closer to the September school holidays.
For enquiries email stay@pawseasonsresort.com.au
