CONTROVERSIAL plans for a $5 million extension to the heritage-listed Commonwealth Hotel with modern bistro lounges and 24-hour gaming areas have been approved by Council.

The works follow a $6.2 million council-funded project to dismantle and rebuild the building to protect the structural integrity of the 110-year-old building which was allegedly undermined during construction of the Ipswich City Square.

As developer and the building’s owner, the council has been working on plans with an unnamed potential leasee of the building, which is located next to the council administration building, and referred the development application to the Independent Decision Review Panel late in November.

However the council-appointed IDRP was hardly “independent” or a “panel”.