Woy Woy Sporties plan resubmitted

A proposal to redevelop the Woy Woy Sporties bowling club on the corner of Brickwharf Road and North Burge Road has been amended and resubmitted to Central Coast Council.

The amended application, submitted by Woy Woy Holdings Pty Ltd, owners of the club, has already stimulated opposition from the club's residential neighbours who intend to mount a concerted campaign to stop it from going ahead.

Brick Wharf Rd resident Mr Ross Cochrane said he had already written to all 15 councillors to voice his concerns about the development.

The latest proposal has reduced the number of seniors' housing units from 87 to 63, spread over four storeys instead of five.

Mr Cochrane said he, and his neighbours, believed the proposal was "exactly the same but one level less so barely any difference".

"There are so many questions about the new application," Mr Cochrane said.

"The proposal released a couple of months ago showed the land as zoned RE2 but in the letter we received from Council on Monday, October 23, it has been rezoned R2 so I have asked for clarification of how that can happen," he said.

According to documents submitted in support of the proposal, the site is zoned RE2 Private Recreation and R2 Low Density Residential

'It has also been my understanding that the front diagonal half of the bowling greens has always been Council-owned land leased to the club until 2027 but the developer has now put in an application that shows residential units on that land so how could it have been sold if it was community land?

"I am not opposed to development but not four storeys and at least keep one bowling green for the community.

"We have so few community facilities left, I would hate to see another public facility gone because it won't be rebuilt.

"The club was originally built on community land but then it got into financial trouble and the current owner purchased it for little more than land value," he said.

The latest proposal was submitted to Council on October 16 and given a value of just over $30.3 million, down from $37.2 million.

The redeveloped site would include seniors housing independent living units, a new Woy Woy Sporties Club, retail tenancies and a basement car park with 136 spaces.

The site would include two residential flat buildings and one mixed-use building with shared basement carparking and a basement bowling green.

The gross floor area of the existing building is 1235 square metres and the gross floor area of the proposed new building would be 9905 square metres, according to the application to Council.

A report lodged on behalf of the developer in support of their plans said: "The proposal is an opportunity to invest in and upgrade the existing site and will complement recent growth and development in Woy Woy.

"The development responds to population growth and the need for additional, high quality accommodation for seniors in proximity to the town centre of Woy Woy," the report said.

"The proposal is compatible with recent infill development and the desired future character of the area."

The developer has also argued their proposal would stimulate the local economy, complement nearby commercial developments and provide employment opportunities during and after construction.

The owner proposes to retain the Sporties Club as part of the new development, arguing that it has been trading at a loss.

"The proposed redevelopment will therefore enable retention of the club within a new building and ensure its long term financial viability through the co-location of compatible seniors housing and cafe tenancies," the report supporting the proposal said.

"The proposed Woy Woy Sporties will be orientated to the north east with views towards Brisbane Water and the Lions Park.

"The proposal will include a bistro, auditorium, entertaining areas, deck and 'all-weather' bowling green.

"The club will be accessed from North Burge Rd and will have facilities to accommodate 350 people.

"The proposal is setback from the waterfront and will not cause substantive view loss or privacy issues for nearby residential developments."

The proposal includes five retail tenancies and associated bathrooms which, according to the developer, were approved by Gosford Council in December 2014.

According to the report submitted in support of the development, the maximum building height will be 14.3 metres and the Council has not adopted a maximum building height for the site.

However, some of the land is located in a zone that has a maximum building height of 8.5 metres.

The developer held a Pre-DA meeting with Council officers prior to submitting their local application but the minutes from that meeting have not been made available to the public.

SOURCES:

Interview, 25 Oct 2017

Ross Cochrane, Woy Woy

Gosford DA Tracker website, 25 Oct 2017

DA53119/2017

Reporter: Jackie Pearson