Darwin RSL plans include public cafe as part of new Esplanade site

EARLY concepts for Darwin RSL’s new Esplanade site include a ground-level cafe, which would make it the first commercial venue on Bicentennial Park

The Deckchair Cinema, located just 80m away from the carpark where the RSL hopes to build its new club, continues to oppose any development at the site. Picture: Will Zwar

EARLY concepts for Darwin RSL’s new Esplanade home include a ground-level cafe, which would make it the first commercial venue on Bicentennial Park.

Darwin RSL president Steve Gloster said the cafe would be for all members of the community but he was unsure how the RSL facility would look at this stage.

LAST CHANCE: Final days of $1 for 28 days offer

“The ground floor will be a cafe open to the general public, upstairs will be the club and at this stage no decision has been made at all on what that will look like … whether we put poker machines in or not,” he said.

“It’d be an ideal spot for us to have there (next to the Cenotaph).”

Mr Gloster said the RSL and their architects Hully Liveris would work with the Deckchair Cinema, who have previously spoken out about possible noise and light pollution that could threaten their business.

MORE TOP STORIES

Litchfield waterhole openings could be reviewed after disappointing weekend

Darwin council hits brakes on plan to turn Casuarina Dr into shared bike lane

Musos raring to perform when pubs reopen, after weeks with no income

“We spoke to Deckchair (Cinema) a couple of weeks ago and we had our architect there and we were happy to show them the plans when we draw them up, in regard to stopping sound and lighting,” Mr Gloster said.

“Everybody else says it’s a great idea.”

But the Deckchair Cinema are standing their ground, saying they don’t think the site is appropriate for any development.

“We went to our members, everybody that came back was against any development, not so much the RSL but any development full stop,” Darwin Film Society deputy chair John Schier said.

“We’ve been led to believe the carpark would return to green space.”

If the Esplanade site isn’t deemed appropriate and plans are rejected, the RSL will likely be rebuilt on it’s former Cavenagh St site, where it burnt down in 2018.