Close, But No Cigar For New Bronte RSL DA

By Sarah Healey on October 14, 2015 in News

If at first you don’t succeed, try, try, try again. Winston Langley Burlington (WLB) has certainly been a testament to that popular proverb, having submitted yet another revised development application for the old Bronte RSL site to Waverley Council recently. The $14 million proposal seeks to tear down the old RSL on Macpherson Street and transform it into four ground-level retail spaces and 21 residential apartments spanning three levels. Two levels of car parking as well as loading facilities are also included in the DA.

The new DA is significantly smaller in size than WLB’s original application, which was rejected by the Department of Planning and Environment after a tirade of community objection. The retail component has been substantially reduced, and there is now no space set aside for the Bronte RSL Club. One of the retail tenancies and related car parks has been allocated to the Bronte RSL Sub-Branch though.

WLB Director David Hynes believes he is working to towards achieving a building that meets community satisfaction.

“Our new DA complies with the planning controls and responds to the concerns raised by the community and Council. Our goal from the start of this process has been to do justice to this iconic site in Bronte and create something special for the local community and the Bronte RSL Sub-Branch,” Mr Hynes said.

However, after three years of arduous protesting with the developer, the Save Bronte group still has serious reservations about the new DA. While Save Bronte spokesperson Dr Stephen Lightfoot considers the revised plan “a step in the right direction”, he believes that the proposal does not comply entirely with Council development controls, as the height and floor space ratio remain above the current limit. The design of the building could also allow the potential for an expansion of the retail space post-approval.

“Given that it doesn’t comply with all the controls, the DA must not be approved in its current form,” Dr Lightfoot said.

“The DA must be altered so that it truly complies with the controls. Conditions must be imposed that ‘future-proof’ the development against any upscaling of the retail space in any post-approval stage. It is only then that our goal of an appropriate redevelopment of the RSL site will be realised.”

Dr Lightfoot hopes the developer will stand by his word when it comes to meeting community expectations.

“He has said publicly that he wants to stop fighting with the community so we hope he will show he means what he says by changing the proposed development in response to the issues we have raised with him,” he said.

The community is now waiting for Council to assess the revised DA. Member for Coogee, Bruce-Notley Smith, who has been a long-standing supporter for voices in the community, encouraged the developer to listen to Council’s assessment and act appropriately.

“I would expect that the applicant heeds the advice of Council, as there’s no strategic merit in putting a huge building on that site,” Mr Notley-Smith said.

According to a Council spokesperson, “The community can view the development via our website, www.waverley.nsw.gov.au. The application is at preliminary assessment stage and as such we cannot comment on the merit of the application.”