Anglesea’s Cerantonio family is so confident about the future of the region it is about to start on a multi-million dollar three-stage expansion of its Surf Coast Spa Resort.
Spa resort manager Damien Cerantonio said the $2.5 million stage one of the project should start next week.
“We are going to move the spa section down to the front of the property and construct 11 new units,” he said.
“Some of the units will be sold and some we will keep ourselves.
“Our aim eventually is to have about 35 units for the motel section and 35 units to be sold freehold.
“We want to develop it more as a resort style with the spa and pool and gymnasium and offering four and a half star accommodation.
“We also want to attract boutique conferences, health retreats and build the day spa business.
“A person could buy one of the units and live there or it could be available for rental through the motel side of the business.”
The Cerantonios believe they need a mix of options to capitalise on their riverside position.
“You can’t just have a 75-unit motel,” Mr Cerantonio said.
Stage two of the upgrade will involve putting a second level on an existing block of units and stage three will see removal of the tennis court and some existing cabins to be replaced with units.
“We are very confident in the future of the area,” Mr Cerantonio said.
“With the ring road complete, Anglesea is very accessible and we think that Anglesea and Aireys Inlet will be the next areas to really take off.
“It is now probably easier to get to Anglesea than to Torquay.”
Mr Cerantonio’s father, Tony, started the motel business after buying the former caravan park site 15 years ago.
The project is a family affair. Mr Cerantonio’s architect brother Dominic has done all the drawings for the job.
“We have had a lot of support for the project and the (Surf Coast) Shire has been good to work with,” he said.
“We have worked with them closely.
“Over the next few years there will be a lot of changes.”
Source: Geelong Advertiser