Canterbury Leagues Club: Development plans for 84 Memorial Ave refused by planning panel
A Sydney leagues club’s plans to bypass a council refusal on an “inappropriate” multimillion-dollar development in Liverpool has been quashed, find out why.
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A southwest Sydney leagues club’s plans to bypass a council refusal on an “inappropriate” $500m development – including a new club and more than 1000 apartments – has been blocked by a planning panel because the proposal had “no strategic merit”.
Canterbury Leagues Club submitted a rezoning review application to the NSW Planning Department in October to approve the major rejuvenation of 84 Memorial Ave, Liverpool.
Canterbury Leagues Club submitted an application to the NSW Planning Department to review a decision by Liverpool Council to reject a rezoning of land.
The proposal included 1150 apartments, a new 9300sq m leagues club, 150 hotel rooms, 44 serviced apartments and increased commercial space.
The plan was to split the site into three distinct precincts: a club and hotel as well as eastern and western residential precinct.
It would also rezone the area to increase the maximum building height from 21 metres up to 77, with buildings planned consisting of that height, 62 metres and 37 metres.
The Sydney Western City planning panel voted unanimously on Aug 16 to block the proposed rezoning of Woodward Park.
The panel said in its written decision it “could not be convinced” of the plan’s strategic merit as consideration was needed to prove how Liverpool CBD’s development would “be compatible with significant development of this site.”
However, the panel stated the site was “poorly maintained” and warranted urgent planning attention if “Liverpool council is to secure its position as an important ‘city hub’.”
The panel stated the site would be better suited to R4 zoning as the current RE2 land has “little relevance to a possible development comprising of residential flat buildings.”
“Given the density of residential use in the planning proposal, one approach could be to consider an R4 zone with scheduled additional uses,” the planning document states.
Under current regulations, low density houses, including duplexes can be built on the site. However, the panel recommended the rules be changed to allow for residential flat buildings to be constructed which could include apartments and boarding houses.
The decision comes after Liverpool Council rejected the proposal in March 2022, saying it “lacked strategic and site-specific merit”.
A peer review of the proposal by planners, City Plan, said the development had “the potential to compete with the city centre and undermine its vitality and viability”.
“The proposal is inconsistent with state and local strategies – a proposal of this nature has significant strategic implications for the LGA and the city centre in particular.”
As part of the proposal, and as voluntary planning agreements, they’d also be a new pedestrian bridge over Copeland St, an internal road to the city centre, upgrades to the nearby Hillier Oval and a monetary contribution to upgrade Whitlam Leisure Centre.
Liverpool MP and councillor Charishma Kaliyanda said the people living in the Liverpool CBD “deserve to access open and green spaces close to where they live”.
“I’m glad to see that common sense prevailed to ensure that we do not put the benefit of a few over the community good” she said.
Canterbury Leagues Club has been contacted for comment.
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