Roseville RSL members defend $15m club development amid backlash from residents
Plans by a north shore club to acquire a strip of public land as part of a major redevelopment have upset locals. But others have explained why ‘we’ll lose the club altogether’ if plans don’t proceed.
North Shore
Don't miss out on the headlines from North Shore. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Members of a north shore RSL club have defended major redevelopment plans for the site amid backlash from residents and concerns over impacts on public land.
The Roseville Club, based on the Pacific Highway, has released new plans to transform the single-storey building into a seven storey development with a new ground level club, 33 units, basement carparking and a communal rooftop garden.
Plans show the $15 million proposal would involve extending the club onto a 157 sqm block of-land, owned by Ku-ring-gai Council next to the site.
The club said the acquisition of the land – currently a carpark and garden beds – was required to meet planning standards including two floor space ratio (FSR) limits on the site, affecting height limit.
Plans state a lower 2:1 FSR limit on part of the site would “not represent the desired character of the site as ‘gateway building’ to the town centre.”
Residents have flagged concerns over the proposal with submissions stating carparking spaces at the site “were not just for club goers” and “many other businesses rely on them.”
A Ku-ring-gai Council spokeswoman said the acquisition and height of the development would be considered by the Sydney North Planning Panel, which is due to determine the plans early next year.
Club member David Barker said the project was needed to ensure the venue’s doors would remain open.
The club’s latest annual report showed it reported a net loss of $62,845 in 2018 with revenue down 15 per cent due to a downturn in bar sales and poker machine clearances.
The report also showed membership declined 15 per cent, from 1104 members in 2017 to 941 in 2018.
“The best answer to ensure the RSL maintains its presence and serves the community is for the development to go ahead,” Mr Barker said.
“If it’s lost to the community the site will be sold to a developer who may not retain a club presence. The concern is we’ll lose the club altogether.”
Plans show the development would be funded through the sale of “air space rights” developed for the five levels of units above the RSL.
The club said the new facility would will appeal to younger generations and families along with the “changing demographics” in the area.
The council spokeswoman said a financial offer by the club has not been settled.
“The impact (of an acquisition) will form a part of the merit assessment of the development application. This is still under assessment,” she said.
If approved, the venue would continue trading for at least six months before development works begin in 2020.
The North Shore Times has contacted the RSL for further comment but did not receive a response at the time of publication.