Plans revealed for $10m expansion of St George Motor Boat Club in Sans Souci

A proposal for a popular venue in Sydney’s south will include a marina expansion, a fine dining restaurant, rooftop park and more carparking.

Proposed renovated entrance to St George Motor Boat Club. Picture: Supplied

Official plans for a major $10m renovation – complete with fine dining restaurant overlooking more marina berths – to a popular venue in Sydney’s south have been revealed.

The proposal for St George Motor Boat Club includes a marina expansion, alterations and additions to the existing club, demolition works and construction of a new carpark at 2 Wellington St, Sans Souci.

The Sydney South Planning Panel has received the development application, worth $10,457,714, and will assess it with a determination yet to be made.

Club executive officer Adrian Vermeulen said changes to the club included another 165 seat up-market restaurant to complement the existing $15m food service, as their current restaurants are at capacity.

View from Georges River looking at the proposed new club. Picture: Supplied

“We have a fantastic view and the rooftop bar will be amazing,” Mr Vermeulen said.

“The existing cafe will be enclosed to become an all-weather venue and there will be a new main bar and new rooftop bar.”

The existing view of the club. Picture: Supplied

The club currently has 55,000 members and Mr Vermeulen said the proposal was designed to enhance their experience.

“We believe we can create a fine dining experience at Motor Boat Club prices,” he said.

Mr Vermeulen said the marina had been full for years now and demand for well-priced marina berths was sought after.

“An additional 85 marina berths which will fill immediately due to the demand,” he said. “We are still a club so we offer the lowest price berths south of Sydney.”

The club will also provide additional carparking to service the new berth and to assist with neighbour parking, with rebuilding of the existing car park to accommodate 260 carparking spaces across the site.

Proposed car park entrance. Picture: Supplied

Parking will be joined to the existing club and new glass foyer.

“The new car park will beautify the front of the building,” Mr Vermeulen said.

“The front of the club shows three generations of existing building work, with the existing home still being a focus of the facade.”

Mr Vermeulen said works on the new main bar, carpet and furniture would begin in February, which would take 13 weeks with half the bar completed first then the other half.

The car park will be completed in two halves so there will always be available parking for members.

The marina and club location. Picture: Supplied

“It is not planned to close the club, the only issue will be the main entrance but we are planning some very sexy hoarding to enter the club,” Mr Vermeulen said.

The club has been around for 102 years and will continue for many more – our members deserve the best from the board of management and we are determined to deliver the best experience possible.”

Planning documents said local residents suggested weekend traffic was a problem in the area and despite providing more off-street parking, they were concerned that a new bar would attract more patrons, increasing noise and traffic and parking issues.

Residents also raised concerns about the loss of their view from the car park but acknowledged plans indicated the changes would be lower and were more aesthetically pleasing than originally thought.