Singaporean investment group WCP Plaza does not have a building licence covering the site after it lapsed in December last year.

The company would have to submit a new development application for Council approval a new building licence.

Albany Mayor Milton Evans said no plans had been received at this stage for the site.

“The City cannot speculate about when an application will be lodged,” Mr Evans said.

“Once an application is lodged, the processing time will depend on the details of the proposed development.”

The City remains hamstrung in what it can do to get work under way.

But it is generally confident something will eventually happen after all the money that had been spent to this stage.

The City rejected rumours that the company was delaying the project in order to eventually construct a permanent housing development instead of a hotel.

A City spokesman said the site would have to go through a rezoning process. This was unlikely to succeed, especially with the community wanting the iconic site to conain as a hotel.

In the meantime, Mr Evans said any problems with dust and sand drift at the site as summer approached could be raised with the City.

“Dust or sand drift problems should be raised with the site owners or builders in an amicable manner,” he said.

“If the situation is not resolved, contact the City of Albany.”