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Ocean Beach Hotel land owner Stan Quinlivan called the area around Cottesloe’s beachfront “a disgrace” in November 2021 while arguing for redevelopment. That was his opinion, not an official finding. The proposal has since changed: Western Australia’s planning commission conditionally approved a later version in 2023, and in May 2026 The Urban Developer reported that the developer had sought a three-year extension. The extension’s outcome has not been established.
Why did Stan Quinlivan call Cottesloe a “disgrace”?
In a PerthNow report published on 18 November 2021, Quinlivan, the Ocean Beach Hotel land owner, argued that Cottesloe needed a revamp. He said the beach served people across Western Australia, not only local residents, and that new investment and attractions could give families more reasons to visit. He contrasted Cottesloe with places he considered more vibrant and rejected the “Cott Vegas” label, describing his vision as more like a “little village.”
His remarks were part of a case for redevelopment, not a description accepted by all parties. The debate concerned how much change the beachfront should accommodate, what the project would provide, and whether its effects on the town and public realm were acceptable.
How did the proposal change over time?
The figures below describe different proposal stages, not one unchanged project. They should not be added together or treated as a single final scope.
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| When and source | Reported proposal or status |
|---|---|
| 18 November 2021, PerthNow | Revised plans described two 12-storey towers and one 10-storey tower, with 120 hotel rooms and 200 apartments. PerthNow also noted earlier proposal figures of 167 rooms and 229 apartments. |
| 26 April 2022, Town of Cottesloe council minutes | The Town recorded strong objections to the then-current mixed-use proposal and set out planning and public-realm concerns. It also supported redevelopment consistent with local planning objectives. |
| 22 June 2023, PerthNow | PerthNow reported that the Western Australian Planning Commission (WAPC) unanimously approved plans with conditions. That report described three towers of 10 to 12 storeys, 185 apartments, 120 hotel rooms, public plazas, and food and retail uses. It also reported 221 public submissions objecting during the comment period. |
| 22 May 2026, The Urban Developer | The Urban Developer reported that the developer sought a three-year extension. Its description of the later scheme included 204 apartments, 121 hotel rooms, retail and food-and-beverage space, and a day spa. The report did not establish whether the extension was granted. |
Why was the redevelopment controversial?
The Town of Cottesloe’s planning and public-realm concerns
The Town’s 26 April 2022 council minutes recorded concerns about the proposal’s fit with the planning framework, built form and scale, visual effects, parking, developer contributions to infrastructure, and the range of dwelling sizes. These are the Town’s recorded positions, not proof that every alleged impact was established. The minutes also show that the Town did not oppose all redevelopment: it supported development aligned with local planning objectives and made a recommendation about hotel location.
Objections reported after conditional approval
PerthNow’s June 2023 account of the WAPC decision described continuing concerns about height, bulk, shadowing, views, and effects on beach culture. The WAPC’s reported approval was conditional, so it should not be read as evidence that opponents’ concerns were resolved or that the project had been built.
Questions about diversity and activation
Curtin University planning lecturer Jake Schapper told PerthNow in 2021 that the development would significantly change Cottesloe, but questioned whether it would create a genuine demographic mix or meaningful activity. That was his expert assessment of the proposal’s likely effects, not a measured outcome.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What does the 2026 cost update mean?
In its 22 May 2026 report, The Urban Developer quoted the extension application as saying the estimated construction cost was less than A$200 million when the original application was lodged in December 2021 and had since increased to approximately A$320 million. Those are figures stated in the application and reported by The Urban Developer; they are not an audited final cost. The same report said the developer sought three additional years as the original approval’s reported three-year commencement condition neared its deadline. The sources available here do not establish the request’s disposition.
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What is known about the project now?
The clearest account is a sequence rather than a single settled plan: Quinlivan made his case for a beachfront revamp in 2021; the Town documented objections to the proposal in 2022; PerthNow reported conditional WAPC approval of a changed scheme in 2023; and The Urban Developer reported a later extension request and higher projected costs in 2026. The varying room and apartment totals reflect those different stages. The latest cited report establishes a request, not that an extension was granted or that construction proceeded.
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