Prospector Trims Airport Inn Plan for Australia’s Golden City
Changes to an airport hotel planned by a precious minerals explorer for Australia’s gold mining capital of Kalgoorlie have been recommended for approval.
To be considered by Western Australia’s regional development assessment panel on April 23 are downsized plans for a hotel proposed by Akudjura Pty Ltd, a company directed by Rita Brooks.
Brooks is executive chairperson of Tambourah Metals and a part-time prospector. Tambourah was established in 2020 to develop gold and critical mineral projects and is exploring for gold in the Murchison and Pilbara regions of WA.
In October 2024, the panel approved Akudjura’s plans for a $20-million hotel on a vacant 1.34ha site at 10 Gateacre Drive, 2km north-west of Kalgoorlie-Boulder Airport and 4km south-west of Kalgoorlie’s city centre.
Now, in a report to the panel, City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder acting chief executive Mal Osborne has recommended approval of a downsized hotel scheme put forward by Akudjura.
“The amendment proposal will facilitate a regionally significant tourist development,” he said of the proposal that project architects Hubble Design have dubbed Kalgoorlie Airport Hotel.
“Compared to the approved development, the amended development will have less building bulk impact on the surrounding land.”
The revised plans propose the hotel be reduced from four storeys to three and the number of rooms cut from 200 to 165. The previously estimated $20-million development cost remains.
Balconies for all hotel rooms proposed under the previous plans have been dropped.
After a 14-day referral period, no objections were received to the current proposal.
Kalgoorlie’s super pit—amalgamated in the 1980s by late property developer-cum-America’s Cup impressario Alan Bond from dozens of small underground mines—is Australia’s largest gold mine.
An Akudjura is a bush tomato native to desert areas of central Australia.
Brooks was contacted for comment.
