Vic Planning Minister announces Dockland's $300m Altus hotel

Victoria Minister for Planning Matthew Guy has launched a new $300 million 4.5 star hotel and apartment complex in Docklands.

The Altus hotel and apartment complex on the corner of Harbour Esplanade and Dudley Street will feature 281 guest rooms and suites, 27 serviced apartments and 299 residential apartments over 37 stories.

The project will be developed by 

Digital Harbour (Holdings) Pty Ltd who secured the Development Rights for the 4.4 hectare precinct in 2000.

Board members include Liberman family major shareholder Paul Abrahams, Russell Nisbet, David Napier, Michael Kohn and Qualitas founder Andrew Schwartz.  
"Docklands is continuing to deliver state of the art buildings that are rejuvenating the area. Once completed, The Altus will be part of a vibrant and exciting precinct in which to work, live and to visit," Mr Guy said.

"The Altus adds to a growing list of top class accommodation, dining and entertainment venues in the Docklands, which provides access to world class sporting and music events, shopping, fine dining and recreational activities."
Scheduled to commence construction in early 2014, the development will create over 400 construction jobs, as well as 150 hotel jobs once completed in 2016.

"The Victorian Coalition Government is continuing to transform the Docklands into a waterfront destination that will be home to 20,000 residents and 60,000 workers upon completion in approximately 2025," Mr Guy said.

In addition to this, the last major piece of developable land in the Docklands has been contracted, opening the way for a 2.5 hectare site diagonally across from Southern Cross Station to be developed into a $1.6 billion precinct that will link central Melbourne to Docklands.

"Practically all 140 hectares of Docklands' developable land is now contracted for development. To date, 50 per cent of that land has been developed into the newest part of Melbourne's CBD," Mr Guy said.