Townsville’s RSL’s $4 million plan to expand Thuringowa RSL
A $4 MILLION plan to renovate and expand a struggling RSL club has been revealed with the project set to create dozens of new jobs.
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A $4 MILLION plan to renovate and expand a struggling community club has been revealed, with the project set to create dozens of new jobs.
Townsville RSL has revealed to the Townsville Bulletin its full plans to turn the Thuringowa RSL at Kelso into a thriving community venue.
It’s a move that has also thrown a lifeline to the related sub-branch, which was $130,000 in debt and went into administration in 2014.
A proposed floorplan shows the existing clubhouse would get a major makeover and more than double in size with a new kitchen, bar, restaurant, roofed deck, children’s outdoor play area and a gaming room with 50 poker machines and TAB facilities.
Townsville RSL general manager Karla Malouf said the club had estimated it would spend about $4 million on the upgrade, which would be completed in stages. She said the takeover was first considered four years ago.
“We’ve had two feasibility studies done out there because we wouldn’t throw that kind of money around without doing that,” she said. “We don’t like to see sub-branches close, and that’s the way they were heading.”
Ms Malouf said Townsville RSL management had taken on the $130,000 debt.
“We really want to help them build up their sub-branch … and carry on with the objectives of the league out there and really they haven’t had the money to do it before,” she said.
“We have already started to help them build up a healthy bank account so that they can really concentrate on their own services … but we will work closely together.”
Ms Malouf said construction could start as early as next month and should be completed in 14 months, pending all development and club licensing approvals.
She said 35 new jobs would be created when the new club was fully operational.
“We’ll be looking for chefs, security, groundsmen, food staff, gaming staff – everything from scratch to staff up a new venue,” she said.
Ms Malouf said a 99-year lease had been signed with the Thuringowa RSL sub-branch.
A soft opening was held in November last year and an open day earlier this month.
“The feedback has been really positive … and we’ve already started promotions to get people interested and we are already getting new memberships out there,” Ms Malouf said.
“We want to keep the country feel out there and make it family-friendly.”
Members of the Thuringowa RSL and Townsville RSL will be able to enter both clubs on the one membership.
The Thuringowa RSL on Kelso Drive is open seven days.
A public notification period for the Townsville RSL’s application to Townsville City Council for material change of use for extension to the existing clubhouse opened yesterday and closes on March 15.
To make a submission email enquiries@townsville.qld.gov.au or call 1300 878 001.
Originally published as Townsville’s RSL’s $4 million plan to expand Thuringowa RSL
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