Kiama Blue opens today

AFTER a tumultuous? start, Kiama Blue will finally open the doors to stage one of the two-part project today.

Lengthy delays were caused in the project after workers walked off the site in late 2004 due to unpaid wages.

Trade contractors only returned to the site in January this year.

Project developer Mark Colys said it was a huge relief to be opening the complex.

It is a hell of a weight off my shoulders I will tell you, he said.

I have been telling people it has been like an awfully long pregnancy. I can tell you it is a long time to be having contractions.

We have been in the limelight for a little while now for all the wrong reasons so it is good for people to be talking positively about us.

We obviously had a hiccup in the planning ordinance and the project was forced to halt for the best part of 12 months.

We were then forced to wait until the market recovered and we are now finally at the stage where we can open stage one.

Stage one of constructions consists of 16 serviced apartments, Blue Diamond bar, bistro and cafe and premises for the relocated Nerand Thai restaurant.

Stage two of the project not due for completion till August 2007 ? will see the construction of a three-storey hotel and conference centre built on the site.

Mr Colys said he hoped to attract the tourist and local market to the new restaurant and bar.

We want to offer the customer the best in everything, he said.

We are hoping we will be able to attract the overnight visitors as well as the people who just want to drive an hour or so, indulge in a high quality meal and then take in a romantic walk around the harbour and be able to leave feeling like they have had a really great evening.

The great thing about stage one is that every space offers a different dynamic. Within the bar and restaurant area we have the amazing views of the harbour, the old Oak tree and the heritage building all working together.

Mr Colys said once both stages of the project were completed, Kiama Blue would provide employment for hundreds of local hospitality workers.

Currently 12 workers have been employed to staff the bar and bistro.

This will crank up once Stage Two is up and running, said Mr Colys.

Wed be looking at a significantly larger number of staff then to service the hotel and conference facilities.

We estimate it will create hundreds of jobs.

Mr Colys said despite its chequered history, he was confident Kiama Blue would be a success saying he believed the new development could act as a catalyst for more construction within Kiama,

Kiama has been identified in terms of capital growth potential in the top few towns along the entire eastern seaboard, he said.

The south coast is starting to become a real focal point for travellers from the Canberra and Sydney markets. People used to travel north for holidays but now we are seeing a lot of the Sydney trade ending up down here.