Development approval granted for $5 million Frenchman Bay glamping and beachside resort

A $5 million boutique beach resort in Frenchman Bay has received the green light for construction, with the long-awaited project marking the first tourism development in the area since 2006.

The Regional Development Assessment Panel approved Frenchman Bay Albany Pty Ltd’s plans for Lots 1 and 2 Frenchman Bay Road at a meeting on September 26.

The 24-bed short-stay resort will accommodate up to 48 guests at a time with a lodge, six glamping tents, two single-storey “bespoke barnyard retreat” units each containing four apartments, and six two-storey pods.

Guests will also have use of a function space that can host up to 70 people as well as a sitting room, studio/fire refuge, deck and a swimming pool.

The site — which was a caravan park before it closed in 2006 — has been earmarked for development since 2018.

In a letter to the RDAP panel, site owner Paul King said he was drawn to the “special site” and it was “deserving of a luxury retreat given its unique oceanfront location surrounded by the national parks”.

The approval is subject to several conditions protecting the sanctity of the area, including bushfire management and coastal erosion plans.

Panellists’ concerns over the site’s bushfire management plan were resolved by improving the information on the slope calculation of the northern side of the lot, recognising the reduced site capacity, adding specifications for firebreaks and equipment, and providing certification by an accredited bushfire consultant.

Previous issues raised by the Frenchman Bay Association concerning water supply and sewage disposal were also resolved, with group member Robin Budden acknowledging the proponent’s willingness to engage constructively as a “refreshing change” in a letter to RDAP.

“With the concerns addressed, we are in a position to fully express our support for the proposed development on Lots 1 & 2 Frenchman Bay Road and look forward to seeing this high-quality tourist accommodation up and running,” they said.

Taylor Burrell Barnett submitted the application for the development on behalf of Frenchman Bay Albany Pty Ltd in December 2023.