Forestville RSL has announced its $76 million plan to build new club facilities and boutique retirement community has just been given the tick of approval by the local council and planning panel.
Under the approved plans, the club will build a new single-level club featuring meeting and function spaces, multiple dining options, family-friendly play areas, configurable event spaces, and RSL displays and sub-branch office space. Alongside this new club facility will be Garraway, a boutique retirement living village housing 52 independent seniors living apartments.
Forestville RSL CEO Ian Thomson said the redevelopment will allow the club to diversify its income while improving club facilities.
“The redevelopment reflects the same foresight our founders demonstrated 66 years ago,” he said.
“We are acting now to protect the financial wellbeing of the club and ensure we remain a vibrant centre for the local community. Most importantly, we are proud to achieve this without selling any of our land or relinquishing local control of our club.”
The club said the redevelopment is set to be delivered in two stages. The initial stage involves building the new club facilities, 16 units, and an underground car park while the existing club continues to operate. Stage two will see the construction of three additional independent living unit buildings with 36 apartments and associated car spaces, plus the demolition of the existing club facilities.
Forestville RSL Club members will now have the opportunity to vote on the proposed redevelopment in a general meeting planned for October.
The approval comes after a petition opposing the proposal was launched. At the time of writing, the petition had just surpassed 1,160 signatures.
Speaking previously with Club Management, Thomsen conceded there will always be opposition to any development, noting that at the club’s most recent information session for its Heart of Forestville project, only four out of 60 attendees voiced objections.
“In the end, no matter what you’re trying to build, there’s always going to be some naysayers. Whether their reasons are justified or not, they’re simply against what we’re trying to do.”
He added the club always prioritised transparency about its plans from the start.
“Since 2021, I have openly talked about this and so have the respective presidents of the club. We’ve said that we need to address this challenge, or this threat, to our ongoing viability. And the way we’re looking at doing this is through building a retirement village.”