Eco-Centre vision revealed

•  An artist’s impression of stage one of the Eco-Centre development. Image supplied.

By Daisy Baker
June 29, 2022

It’s anticipated plans for the Eco-Centre development will be submitted to Council later this week, detailing the new owners’ vision to provide a major accommodation boost for the region.

The Moores purchased the property at the end of last year, which has previously been an interpretive tourism centre focussed on the local forestry industry, offices and a cafe.

Project manager Sam Moore said the development is split into two stages, starting with converting the sheds at the back of the main structure into eight fully self-contained units and ten dorm-styled rooms with shared facilities.

“Stage one will be an accommodation facility to provide a comfortable and modern accommodation in the North-East for short to medium term stays,” he said.

“If approved in this format it would sleep 44 people at maximum capacity.”

The units would sleep two people in each and the dorms would have two to four beds per room.

There are currently four big sheds that were previously used as
forestry workshops. 

“We would be keeping the existing framework of the sheds and fitting them out internally.”

The accommodation is intended to fill the demand for short to medium stay across the region from mountain bike riders, young professionals and young families in the area.

Mr Moore said if approved by Council, they hope to start construction
by October.

“We would like to use local people where possible, keeping in mind everyone in the industry is pretty flat out at the moment so depending on availability, but we will definitely use local trades where possible,” he said.

“At the moment we’re focussing on sheds out the back. Once that’s operational we’ll focus on the Eco-Centre. 

“We haven’t fully got it planned yet. Our thinking is that it will become some style of accommodation too – possibly like what we’re doing out the back or long-term apartments.

“We’re probably not looking to start creating any plans for that until stage one is operational which we’re hoping would be early next year. From there it might be another 12 months until anything is operational in that building.”

Initially after taking over the property, the Moores mentioned a restaurant might be on the cards.

Mr Moore said at this stage they are unsure whether this will go ahead but there would definitely be scope to include a restaurant down the track. 

Speaking to the demand for accommodation across the region from renters and visitors alike, Mr Moore said he hopes the project has positive impact for the whole North-East.

“There’s definitely a need for it, especially in the seasonal farm worker space,” he said.

“It’s preventing people from coming because there’s nowhere to stay so we’re hoping it flows right through Dorset and further.”