Easts consider removing childcare centre from Waverley Bowlo plans

Easts group chief executive Scott Bennetts has revealed the club is considering dropping one of the most contentious components of its plan to redevelop Waverley Bolwo — a 76-place childcare centre.

Easts Group CEO Scott Bennetts in East Rugby League Club at Bondi Junction. Picture: John Appleyard

• Waverley Bowlo dispute headed to court
• Mayor has ‘no regrets’ over failed stadium court appeal
• ‘Sneaky’ bid to knock down Waverley Bowlo

Eastern Suburbs Leagues Club head honchos are giving “serious consideration” to scrapping a proposed childcare centre from its plans to redevelop Waverley Bowling Club.

Group chief executive Scott Bennetts told the Wentworth Courier chairman Nick Politis was “fairly convinced” removing the proposed 76-place centre would alleviate the main concerns of residents and members who remain sceptical of the $83 million project.

“The three main issues we have is height, childcare and traffic,” he said.

“From that feedback, there is serious consideration to take out the childcare, which will knockout two of the main concerns — which is childcare and traffic.

The latest development application for the site was lodged in December 2018. Picture: John Appleyard

“Whilst I can’t 100 per cent guarantee it … the chairman (Mr Politis) seemed fairly convinced that it would be a good thing to take it out.

“The reason why it was included was to have a facility, it doesn’t matter what it is, that can be leased out and can give recurring revenue that can underpin the club for the future.”

He said the club was “vigorously” exploring options at the “opposite end” of childcare that could bring in similar revenue streams.

Mr Bennetts, who joined Easts the year after it merged with the bowling club in 2010, said there had “always been the guise of developing it somehow”.

A week after it was revealed Easts had taken Waverley Council to court over the proposal, Mr Bennetts said time was of the essence following years of planning and consultation.

The club’s Site Compatibility Certificate, allowing the site to be redeveloped for seniors living, expires in September.

The current Waverley Bowling Club. Picture: John Appleyard

The new application — to feature two communal greens, a bigger clubhouse, and 90-unit independent living block for seniors and people with a disability — would preserve the bowling club for the next generation, he said.

“There is objections but having lived through the other variants, the objections I’m seeing is much less than previous times,” Mr Benetts said.

“A new offering is needed for the club to survive long-term.”

He declined to comment on the council’s failure to assess the latest application within 40 days of lodgement on December 20, which triggered legal action via a “deemed refusal” appeal, saying it had “plenty on its plate”.

Mr Bennetts said the club went “above and beyond” with community consultation after members voted down its initial development application in 2017, and he believed the core membership was now on board.

IN OTHER NEWS

“After the last plan … we sat down with the members who had voted against the move to Bondi Golf and Diggers Club,” he said.

“Off the top of my head, we had seven meetings with that group (and) nine different plans were put to them.

“It was a group of residents and bowlers getting together and wanting to engage, and we seemed to have come up with a plan.

“Now to be fair to them I don’t think all agree on bulk and scale … but the general layout, they seem on board with.”

Members will vote at an annual general meeting on March 26 on a motion to break up the property into core and non-core facilities, allowing for parts to be leased and sold when the redevelopment is finished.