Oatlands Golf Club members vote for seniors living units

It went down to the wire but a golf club has voted to advance a controversial seniors development near the site where a drunk, drugged driver killed four children at Oatlands.

Oatlands Golf Club members have voted to proceed with a large seniors living complex near the site where a drunk, drugged driver killed four children.

Just over half - 51 per cent - of the 440 members voted in favour of the Mirvac project, ensuring it scraped through to the next step despite mounting community backlash.

The vote on Wednesday was a marginal win that 49 per cent of members voted against and means the club is expected to lodge a development application for hundreds of units, a double-storey clubhouse, a restaurant and cafe and 400-space carpark at Bettington Rd.

The Sydney Central Planning Panel last month approved a “site compatibility certificate” but the club’s plans suffered a setback after it was ordered to scale back the 193 apartments planned over five blocks reaching between three and six storeys.

Part of the bulky original plans for 193 units will have to be reduced.

The ambitious development initially drew controversy after unit plans were revealed after the club rejected the Abdallah family’s proposal to build a small memorial on the golf course where their children Antony, Angelina, Sienna and their cousin Veronique Sakr died after drunk and drugged driver Samuel Davidson ploughed into them two years ago.

However, the family declined to speak on the development decision on Thursday, and is now liaising with Parramatta Council about a memorial garden.

Resident Lee Malkoun said the fatalities remained raw in the community.

“You also have to look at the tragedy there — it’s still fresh in the minds of the local neighbourhood,’’ he said.

He said traffic would worsen at Bettington Rd — the suburb’s key entry and exit point — with “at least 400 extra cars”.

He pointed out that a traffic report conducted for the units was undertaken during lockdown when streets were quiet.

The streetscape is also a bugbear for residents, with the development on the 16,000 sq m site having inappropriate setback and bulkier than other properties in the suburb where there are few units.

Parramatta Council cannot determine the project but has unanimously rejected it.

Councillor Michelle Garrard said the fight was just beginning.

The community can make submissions into the revised development application once it is lodged.

“I think now’s probably the time where residents are going to oppose it and go hard,’’ she said.

“Once the development application has been lodged, residents will have to strongly come out and show opposition. It will really come down to people power.’’

Cr Pierre Esber called on Premier Dominic Perrottet to intervene. Oatlands Golf Club falls under the Parramatta electorate but will switch to Mr Perrottet’s Epping seat in March when boundary changes are made.

Leila and Danny Abdallah with their children including Antony and Sienna (far left) and Angelina (far right) who died on February 1, 2020.

Veronique Sakr was killed at Oatlands.

He said it would not be too late for the club to reverse its decision and shelve plans.

“It’s going to leave a bad taste with people on the board and the club members and the area,’’ he said.

Details about the club’s smaller proposal have not been confirmed but because it is likely to attract several objectors, the application could be lodged with the Sydney Central Planning Panel.

The club and Mr Perrottet were contacted for comment.

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