A $22 million, 120-bed two-storey resort will be built on the Kalgoorlie Golf Course — including a restaurant, day spa and function rooms — with construction to start by early next year.

The resort will deliver a long-promised clubhouse for the Goldfields Golf Club and is expected to be a game-changing facility to attract convention-based tourism.

City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder chief executive John Walker said Pacifica Developments, which had built at least one other golf course resort in north Queensland, was confident the resort could be completed by about October next year.

Mr Walker, Mayor John Bowler and Pacifica bosses Russell McCart and John Zendler announced the plans onsite yesterday, as a family of kangaroos lounged in the red Kalgoorlie dirt about 50m away.

The resort will be built on the course’s highest point overlooking the picturesque 18th hole.

“This resort will enhance this wonderful course which as we know is ranked No.18 for public access courses in Australia,” Mr Walker said.

“It is unique, but it does need the benefit of a hotel, a resort, food and beverage and other activities that will make it a true community hub.

“We are pretty excited about it. The people involved in this project will bring it to life and make this something really special.”

Included in the hotel will be a restaurant, with function spaces, which will accommodate up to around 500 people, to cater for functions, weddings, birthdays, parties.

“And of course 120-beds means we can make an attack on the convention and exhibition space, not only around golf, but other areas,” Mr Walker said.

“It is a major economic impact and construction site for Kalgoorlie. Jobs, of course, when you are running a hotel of that size there will be long-term jobs, ongoing jobs and I’m sure all the parties around town will be pretty excited by what’s to come.

“We are hoping that in not more than 12 months, towards the end of next year, we will be sitting here with a beer overlooking this wonderful 18th hole.”

Mr McCart said it was a “magnificent golf course and warrants a resort”. “It warrants a decent golf club and that’s what we’re here to deliver.”

Mr Bowler said he was looking forward to the end of next year.

“This is important not just for the golf club, but this is important for the whole town,” he said.

He said the long-term future of Kalgoorlie-Boulder hinged on gold and lithium, “the new kid on the block”, but a top class golf resort was “almost the cherry on top”.

“You’ll get the business market, there’s no doubt about that when companies and government departments are paying the bill people always go to the best hotel in town and this will be the best,” he said. “We are here to help you, we are here to make it happen.”

The City will contribute $4 million for the golf clubhouse, plus a $3 million commercial loan to the developer, which will be repaid.

“This amount is significantly lower than the $8 million to $10 million cost to the City if it had to build a stand-alone clubhouse,” Mr Walker said. “We will be investing $3 million into the project in the form of a commercial loan to the consortium to help get the project off the ground.”

The resort and hotel will be operated by a yet-to-be named major hospitality brand with “global reach”.

Both Mr Walker and Mr Bowler said the resort represented a huge step forward for the City, with enormous potential to increase golf tourism, convention business and enhance the golf-resort experience for local Goldfields residents.

“The operators run some of the most outstanding hotels and resorts in the country, so the community and indeed future visitors can expect a high level of service and amenity,” Mr Walker said.

Mr Zendler said he hoped construction would start early next year, looking at a 10-month build, and was hopeful the resort could open by October or November.

“The City is continually looking at opportunities to diversify our local economy, and the development of a large resort will not only create local jobs but also really enhance the tourism product we have to offer here in Kalgoorlie-Boulder,” Mr Walker said.

“Once the resort construction is under way, the City will be looking to enhance the precinct for residents, with features like a mini-golf course and playground under consideration.”