Update on works at golf clubhouse provided while future of multimillion-dollar resort remains unknown

The City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder has provided an update on works at Kalgoorlie Golf Course, but the future of the multimillion-dollar Hilton resort development remains unknown. There was no mention of the long-stalled and controversial resort and clubhouse development in the major projects update being presented at next week’s Kalgoorlie-Boulder council meeting, but an update on a project focused on aged infrastructure at the golf course clubhouse and surrounding buildings was given. The $120,000 project includes finalisation of the commercial kitchen upgrade, safety flooring, food and beverage storage, and is a continuation of the existing work on design of the kitchen and marquee, variations to internal floor plan and painting. All three milestones listed for the project were estimated for completion in June-August 2024, with only one — the design and costings — remaining listed as in progress. Procurement of builder and construction/installation are both listed as not in progress. Updates on the project from the first quarter of the current financial year noted final minor outstanding works for flooring and kitchen improvements were completed, as well as repairs and repainting of outdoor furniture and new advertising initiatives. The second quarter update noted a clean-up of the construction site had taken place involving consolidating equipment into a smaller footprint to improve safety and enhance the appearance of the area. No significant improvements were noted in the third quarter update, but construction site clean-up continued into early March. The council’s quarterly update report being presented to the council next week also notes 75 per cent progress had been made towards undertaking a condition assessment and works prioritisation for the golf course, which would contribute to an asset management plan expected to be delivered by the end of the year. The Kalgoorlie Miner’s last update on the Hilton resort came in August last year after information was provided in the city chief executive’s annual review. The agenda item stated a lack of communication from the developer had led city officers to investigate alternative development and funding options for the project, while noting council solicitors were looking for ways to “terminate the agreement and minimise financial implications of the city”. However, Peter Su of Ausglobal Kalgoorlie, who was contracted for the four-star, two-storey development, told the Miner the city wrote to the company earlier in the year to “assert that the relevant agreement had already been terminated”. Mr Su stated the group was in the process of obtaining legal advice in relation to the matter. It was the latest twist in a long-running slew of delays for the controversial project, which was first announced eight years ago as a $22 million 120-room Hilton DoubleTree resort. The resort was expected to include conference and function rooms, day spa, restaurant, pool, fitness centre and a long-promised golf clubhouse, and was anticipated to be up and running by the end of 2018. In August 2020, that price had shot up to $31m, with the city’s commitment jumping from $7m to $12.5m. The project was then scheduled for completion in mid-2023, but in June 2022, it was pushed to early 2024 because of issues getting contractors on site. In November 2023 the project was officially listed as “on hold” on the city’s major projects update pending approval of a reviewed deed of assignment and variation of lease. In January 2024, glaring communication issues between the city and then-developer Collab Capital were highlighted, as was a new price tag of more than $30m. In April 2024 the saga took a new turn when the city revealed it had been asked to consider design and service standard changes for the project, including changing from a DoubleTree to a Garden Inn model, and moving away from an in-situ build model.