Horseshoe Bay to get better tourist facilities

FRIDAY, JANUARY, 7: Horseshoe Bay is to get a new restaurant and changing facilities after complaints from tourists.

Concession holder the South Shore Hospitality Group has proposed the revamp to cater for increasing numbers of cruise visitors.

The facility will also bring improved disabled access.

In an application to Planning, South Shore Hospitality Group says it will demolish the existing buildings, including the food service area and bathrooms.

In their place will be “an upgraded and expanded structure”. The applicants say this is needed “to address the increased use of the facility and the complaints of tourists regarding the deficient quality of the existing structure”.

Tourists are frustrated at the “inadequate capacity” of the bathrooms.

The planning application also highlights the need for a new kitchen in the restaurant, as staff have to serve up to 1,500 lunches a day in peak season from “a substandard and undersized kitchen”.

The new restaurant will seat 130 diners over two storeys.

There will be an additional 102 bike parking spaces and five spaces for cars.

Service access will be moved away from pedestrians and there will be improvements to the site’s storm water mitigation.

The new facility will be constructed of natural stone with wood finishes, and will be surrounded by landscaping.

South Shore Hospitality Group is also proposing a boardwalk, rental shop and gift shop.

The application is awaiting review by the Planning Department.