Housing Development Authority endorses 175 units for Mortdale RSL Club redevelopment

A southern Sydney RSL club’s colossal redevelopment proposal is gaining momentum amid community concerns it will detract from the suburb’s village feel and “turn into Hurstville’.

An artist's impression of the Mortdale RSL Club redevelopment from 2020.

Despite almost a decade of setbacks, Mortdale RSL Club’s redevelopment could be fast-tracked into becoming a massive mixed-use development amid community concerns it will detract from the suburb’s village feel.

Under the state-significant project, the proposal includes the demolition of the existing club to construct a new venue, 175 apartments, a supermarket and a basement carpark at 19-25 Macquarie Place and 46-52 and 56 Pitt St.

Last month, the state government’s Housing Development Authority (HDA) – which was brought in to accelerate housing – accepted the apartments for the project, which will most likely rise 13 storeys.

The HDA noted the proposal had state significance because it was a major residential project that satisfied its development criteria.

The development is out of the control of Georges River Council, which has long objected to the plans.

An artist's impression of Mortdale RSL Club.

The club’s proposal has been in the pipeline for several years.

Despite the HDA’s endorsement, the Planning Minister will make the final determination on the plans which have sparked fierce community opposition.

Georges River Mayor Elise Borg said the HDA’s approval was “a big surprise” after the council’s planners, local planning panel and a strategic planning panel rejected the original plans for a 170-apartment development, which did not align with the Mortdale masterplan.

An artist's impression from July 2020.

Under that plan, building heights near the station are capped at six storeys and four storeys for residential areas.

“The concern of the community is that it’s taking the commercial centre away from Morts Rd,’’ Cr Borg said.

“They want a large supermarket there and based on the number of dwellings, it’s probably 13 storeys – that’s why it doesn’t haven’t the site strategy because you’re going go have a 13-storey mega tower in the centre of Mortdale.

“The community values Mortdale village, they don’t want Mortdale to turn into Hurstville.’’

Georges River Mayor Elise Borg,

Save Mortdale Village member Catherine Ford was shocked to learn the HDA had given the green light for 175 units because 13 storeys was more than double the approved six storeys permitted in the suburb.

She was “frustrated” after the council spent a lot of money on the masterplan and community consultation to restrict the heights from eight to six storeys.

Save Mortdale Village member Catherine Ford.

“We were happy with the compromise,’’ Ms Ford said.

“Now for the state government to come in and say ‘we’re going to have whatever’ – that’s appalling.

“I don’t see how they can, with the stroke of a pen, change it and make it 13 storeys.

“Mortdale is small. Yes, we have to take our share of the housing load – we all understand that – but it’s going to be a nightmare and they do what they want willy-nilly.’’

Like the council, the Mortdale resident of 33 years is concerned over the lack of commuter parking and access in and out of the suburb.

Mortdale RSL Club management did not respond to questions.

Cr Borg recalled Kogarah RSL Club was in a similar position 10 years ago when the sub-branch was “sold off” to become a 12-storey apartment block.

“RSLs try to trade off their goodwill attached to the sub-branch but really a 12-storey building doesn’t benefit the sub-branch at all,’’ she said.

Mortdale is bracing for a population explosion.

Comparatively, she said Ramsgate RSL Club was a thriving club with “great entertainment and great catering” and was just two storeys, showing smaller club upgrades “can be done”.

Mortdale is now classed as a low and mid-rise housing suburb.

At its meeting on Monday night, Cr Borg called for the state and federal governments to fund infrastructure that would be needed to support the housing reforms, which had the potential to create a population increase of 18 per cent – 30,360 people – in the Georges River area.

She said no infrastructure increases for low and mid-rise housing had been proposed to address the pressures more dense housing would place on the community.

The council agreed to write to Premier Chris Minns, the NSW Planning Minister Paul Scully and the federal government to request funding including the creation of a grant funding program to assist local governments in meeting the infrastructure pressures.