Easts Leagues plan to create new Roosters headquarters at Waverley Bowling Club withdrawn after public backlash
EAST Leagues Club has backed down on plans to turn Waverley Bowling Club into an administration building for the Roosters NRL side.
City East
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RESIDENTS in Sydney’s east have won a reprieve against plans to redevelop Waverley Bowling Club into a $100 million Roosters training facility with two residential towers.
In a statement issued today, Easts Group Chief Executive Officer Scott Bennett said the rezoning application lodged with Waverley Council in September would be withdrawn.
The move comes after strong opposition from the Waverley community which saw two separate petitions circulated against the proposal.
Community groups expressed concerns that it would turn Waverley into a mini-Las Vegas and create alcohol-related violence problems after the plans were announced.
“Much of what has been said about our proposal is misinformed or simply false,” Mr Bennett said in a statement.
“However, such campaigns have raised community concerns. As a sports club within the community, we are cognisant of the views that have been expressed, thus the withdrawal of the proposal,” Mr Bennetts said.
The future of Waverley Bowling Club now remains unclear with Mr Bennett warning the club’s tenuous financial position could not be sustained.
He said the East Group Board would go back to the drawing board to re-evaluate its proposal.
President of Waverley Bowling Club Patrick Fitzsimons said they were pleased with the announcement.
EASTS TO TRANSFORM WAVERLEY BOWLING CLUB INTO ROOSTERS HQ
ROOSTERS AND EASTS PROPOSE TWO 10-STOREY APARTMENTS
“We are confident that the bowling club can meet the needs and interests of the community and Easts according to the original intentions set out in the amalgamation with Easts.”
If approved, the Sydney Roosters would have had a new home equipped with administrative offices, a licensed club, function centre, training facilities and an additional 32 serviced apartments in addition to the two 10-storey towers.
It also included a 70-child daycare centre, retail premises and 420 car spaces on site
The plan, which went to Waverley Council in September, sought to rezone the land and increase the height controls to 45m.
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