Bega Council to vote on $20M Merimbula hotel proposal
A Canberra-based developer’s plan to deliver a high-end hotel and apartment complex to Merimbula is headed for a council decision, as the Bega Valley Shire Council prepares to vote on the A$20 million proposal this Wednesday.
The proposed development at 58 Merimbula Drive, spearheaded by Nik Bulum of the Bulum Group, includes 25 hotel suites, 14 townhouse-style apartments, a rooftop restaurant, gym and pool. The mixed-use complex is intended to address what Bulum sees as a significant gap in luxury accommodation offerings on the New South Wales South Coast.
“There’s so many motels but there’s just no hotels,” Bulum said. “It’s time for the town to start growing.”
The site, which currently houses a disused motel also owned by Bulum, would be transformed into a landmark property with sweeping views and a contemporary design.
“Our hotels will be just jaw drop amazing,” Bulum said. “It’s going to have 360 views of the ocean, the town and, with the glass panel design, will have views of both the sunrise and the sunset.”
Despite its ambition, the proposal breaches the town’s 18-metre building height limit by 2.1 metres – a factor likely to feature prominently in council debate.
Nevertheless, council planning staff have recommended the application be approved, subject to a variation request already submitted by the developer.
The rooftop restaurant will be accessible to the public, although Bulum confirmed the hospitality component would be run by an external operator, still to be appointed.
“We’re currently having discussions about that,” he said.
Bulum said the development aimed to reinvigorate Merimbula’s tourism infrastructure, which he believes has lagged behind comparable coastal regions.
“That’s why I wanted to build this here,” he said.
Jonathan Jackson, 11th June 2025
