RSL NSW considering options for Concord RSL land

RSL NSW has taken over management of the Concord RSL and Community Club’s land after dismissing the sub branch late last year.

RSL NSW is considering options for the Concord RSL and Community Club land.

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RSL NSW has taken over management of the Concord RSL and Community Club’s land after dismissing the sub branch late last year.

The State’s RSL president James Brown said the organisation was “carefully considering all options” for the club’s property on Nullawarra Ave after resolving to remove the sub branch office holders on September 28.

RSL NSW now has control over the sub branch’s funds and property.

“So now the charter (of the sub branch) has been withdrawn and the sub branch has been dissolved, decisions on the future of that site is now a matter for RSL NSW,” Mr Brown said.

“We appreciate people in the community want to see the club continue.”

RSL NSW president James Brown. Picture: John Appleyard

The future of the Club remains uncertain after the Courier last week revealed Hogan Sprowles was no longer the voluntary administrator of the cash-strapped club.

MrBrown said: “We will look to an outcome which first and foremost delivers on our duties to veterans and their families but that is also sympathetic to the community as well.

“The staff here are looking at different options including having discussions with some of the stakeholders who have been involved in putting proposals forward on that property in the past.

“It’s a significant property and an important part of the community so it’s got to be a careful process so you’ve got to consider all the options.

“I think it’s a pretty sad situation really for the sub branch, for the club and for the community.”

The bowling greens aren’t used much anymore after a walkout by the club’s bowlers in late 2017.

Many members believe it was a mistake not to pursue a merger proposal from Burwood RSL, which would have included a $1 million refurbishment of the clubhouse.

Club Burwood Group CEO Andrew Anderson said “it’s unlikely” they would reconsider a partnership with Concord RSL as they were now focused on their own redevelopment plans.

“It would be up to the board here at the club but it’s unlikely because our focus is on our new super club complex,” Mr Anderson said.

“We made a generous offer of an amalgamation in late 2015 which carried over into early 2016.

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“It included a full refurbishment of the club premises and an offer to purchase the property from the sub branch. We were in advanced discussions”.

There’s been a dramatic exodus of licensed members from the club over the last three years, recently made worse by switching off the poker machines.

The club’s financial woes intensified when, late last year, the Mount Pritchard Community Club — Mounties — walked away from negotiations to redevelop the club’s land into apartments for over- 55s.

Mounties Group CEO Greg Pickering told the Courier: “The project was taking too long to get an approval and by board instructed me to withdraw.”

RSL NSW now has control over the club’s land.

A member told the Courier the Mounties had ploughed significant funds into the club to keep it afloat.

“Burwood RSL’s plans were for busloads to come over every week and use the greens there at Concord, even that alone would have kept it going,” the member said.

“We’ve gone to Briars because it’s the closest club and what a difference there is, it’s a breath of fresh air.”

He felt sad about what had become of their once proud club.

“At Concord I remember they had to put moveable fans in the main bar because the air con broke down and they couldn’t afford for it to be fixed.

“The bus to pick members up broke down and was just sitting there because they couldn’t afford to fix it and it ran out of rego.

“It’s so sad it got to that stage.”

He said the poker machines had to be switched off as the club could not afford to pay out in the event of a jackpot.

The machines are tied to many promotions which help get people in the door.