A new event space at Morisset that will host headline national and international performers will put Lake Macquarie on the map as an event tourism destination and create new economic and social opportunities in the city's south west precinct.
Lake Macquarie City Councillors voted unanimously tonight to approve Winarch Capital's development application for the Cedar Mill event site on the former Morisset Country Club golf course. The entertainment facility will host a range of events, markets and functions, with capacity to stage outdoor performances for audiences of up to 30,000.
The development application for the event site is central to Cedar Mill's multi-million dollar redevelopment of the golf course, which also includes a tourist park, outdoor gardens, café, restaurant, splash park and other recreation areas.
Lake Macquarie Mayor Kay Fraser said the development would boost the profile of Morisset and help realise the area's untapped potential.
"The development will have positive economic benefits for the Morisset and the city, facilitating exciting new tourism and entertainment opportunities," Cr Fraser said.
"It will create jobs in the area and generate significant flow-on benefits for local tourism operators, hospitality vendors, equipment providers and other businesses that support and supply the event industry.
"It will boost the night-time economy and provide much-needed new social and recreational amenities for the people of Morisset and surrounding communities."
Cr Fraser said the Cedar Mill facility would help achieve desired growth and development outcomes for Morisset outlined in both Council's strategic plans and the Draft Hunter Regional Plan 2041, which identifies the town as a 'Regionally Significant Growth Area'.
"Morisset is growing quickly already; investors and families have discovered the area's attributes and are making the choice to relocate there. We have engaged the University of Newcastle to undertake a Resilience and Growth Study for Morisset and the South West Precinct to ensure that growth is sustainable and addresses the needs of the community."
Dantia CEO Josh Sattler said Cedar Mill's redevelopment of the former golf course was a value-add proposition for a part of the city poised for significant transformation.
"Morisset has so many strategic and lifestyle assets – it is well-located for growth, has significant open space, affordable housing and is idyllically situated at the foothills of the mountains and in close proximity to the lake," Mr Sattler said.
"This is a state-significant tourism development that will cast Morisset in an exciting new light and showcase our city to visitors from across NSW, interstate and overseas."
Winarch Capital managing director Paul Lambess welcomed Council's decision.
"We are proud of the work we have put in to get Cedar Mill Lake Macquarie to this point," Mr Lambess said.
"This project represents an enormous opportunity for the south-western corridor of Lake Macquarie and we appreciate the collaborative and progressive approach that Lake Macquarie City Council has taken in recognising that opportunity to create jobs and help Morisset reach its potential."
