New $12m Beachside To Deliver 100 Jobs

Newcastle Herald

Friday January 9, 2009

By MICHELLE HARRIS

EAST Lake Macquarie is set for a significant economic boost, with the start of a recruitment campaign for about 100 positions at the soon-to-open new $12 million Caves Beachside Hotel.

More than 70 staff, mostly casuals, are needed for the venue's three kitchens, a{aac} la carte restaurant, cafe, 300-seat bistro, bars, sports lounge and function rooms, which are expected to open in about a month.

The positions are for three to four apprentice chefs, about 40 waiter and wine staff and about 30 bar staff. Other positions, such as security and cleaning, will also be advertised tomorrow.

The new venue is licensed for 1500 guests and will replace the existing Caves Beach Hotel, over which apartments will be built.

It is part of the wider Caves Beachside tourist and residential development that will include 18 beach suites, 131 apartments, 57 village houses and 40 beach houses overlooking Caves Beach.

The beach suites which, with the hotel form stage one of the development, are being completed off site and will be installed in about March.

An opening date for the hotel has not been set, with fitting work and landscaping of new wetlands at the hotel's front still to be completed.

Project shareholder and sales director Rob O'Brien said the new hotel and the activity it would generate were significant, particularly in a difficult economic climate.

The development would bring a high-class accommodation option that was lacking in Lake Macquarie.

"It's something this part of the lake really needs and we're pleased it will deliver jobs for the community," he said.

A steady stream of work for staff members is already looking promising.

Catering director Greg Hopper said he had fielded numerous inquiries for weddings and functions and, even while the hotel was still being built, had booked Hunter TAFE's awards night for May.

Project director Bill Saddington said construction had taken about a year and was hampered by about three months of rain.