Woolworths submit pre-DA for former Bronte RSL site

Controversy surrounding the redevelopment of an eastern suburbs RSL club has returned, after Woolworths submitted a pre-DA for a metro store at the site this week.

Bronte Place, Danny Avidan's boutique development on the site of the old Bronte RSL.

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Woolworths have lodged a pre-development application to Waverley Council to investigate opening a Metro store at the site of the former Bronte RSL Club.

Wounded residents who fought against the club’s controversial redevelopment were already concerned about increased traffic on Macpherson St putting children at nearby Clovelly Public School at risk, after rumours of the plan were spread to the Save Bronte group.

A council spokeswoman told the Wentworth Courier Woolworths lodged the application on Monday, seeking a meeting for “planning advice” before submitting a potential development application.

The old Bronte RSL Club on Macpherson St.

“The Woolworths query relates to establishing a 397sq m retail tenancy on the site. The Waverley Council LEP permits a retail tenancy of up to 500sq m on the site,” she said.

“Woolworths intend to liaise with local community and school groups prior to lodging any DA to council.”

Justin Nolan, general manager of Woolworths Metro, said the company believed there was a “need for a convenient and community-minded store” in Bronte.

“At under 500sq m, the proposal is substantially smaller than Metros in neighbouring suburbs (Bondi and Coogee) and has been carefully designed to integrate with both the village feel of Macpherson St and the specific planning controls for this site,” he said.

Stephen Lightfoot making his submission at a Land and Environment Court Site hearing in 2017. Picture: John Appleyard

Ms Nolan said Metro stores were “tailored for local customers” and Woolworths would engage with the community about its plan “in the near future”.

The supermarket would take up the entire retail space at ground level of the site, replacing the proposed cafes including in the approved development.

Ms Nolan stressed that trucks would have no access to Chesterfield Lane under the plans.

Steven Lightfoot from Save Bronte said there had been rumours about the plan in the community for “some time”.

The hearing at the site of the redevelopment. Picture: John Appleyard

Mr Lightfoot was part of significant community activism against what they called an overdevelopment of the site, a project which was eventually settled in the Land and Environment Court in 2017 — five years after the club was first sold.

“We’ve had DA after DA, we’ve had a court hearing,” he said.

“Now we have to start the whole process again.

“The original DA was to put a large supermarket. There was a clear feeling in the community that they didn’t want that.”

Mr Lightfoot said he was concerned about the impact of supply trucks on traffic and safety in the street, which is shared by Clovelly Public and Clovelly Scout Hall.

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