December 2024 Update
Redevelopment Information Presentation
On Sunday afternoon 8th December, more than 70 interested Forestville RSL Club Members and residents from the local community took time out of their weekend to join us at the club for a Redevelopment Information Presentation.
Attendees were introduced to the Club’s Redevelopment sub-Committee and provided with valuable information highlighting why the club is seeking to evolve and redevelop to create brand new club facilities and a boutique retirement community.
THE WHY
- Ageing club infrastructure requiring costly repairs and maintenance
- New modern club facilities will meet evolving needs of members and guests
- To enable the club to maintain and grow our support to the local community
- Mitigate projected losses and risk due to expected tighter regulation on gaming
- Reduce reliance on Gaming
- Ensure club’s future viability
ANZAC Day 1961 at the original Forestville RSL Club building
The presentation also covered off where the redevelopment will occur, what is included as part of the proposed redevelopment and how it will be funded.
Attendees were treated to a fly through video showing an artist’s impression of the new club facilities and there were many appreciative and smiling faces in the audience as the proposed modern new club was brought to life.
Importantly Club CEO Ian Thomson provided reassurance that throughout the two stages of the redevelopment the Forestville RSL Club will continue to operate, and that only once the new club is operating, will the older club be demolished.
He also acknowledged that with any project of this nature there are risks which he identified and then explained how the Board and Club Management are mitigating against these risks.
Key areas of interest identified throughout both the club’s community engagement process and the DA submission process were also discussed in detail in the presentation.
At the end of the presentation, attendees were encouraged to participate in a lively question and answer session which included members of the sub-Committee, architect and seniors living advisor providing responses to queries raised.
Attendees were also encouraged to send any additional questions and comments through via the Heart of Forestville website in the coming months and reminded that the website is a highly valuable source of information relating to the redevelopment.
A summary of the presentation, graphics and fly through will be available at the club for viewing by all members soon and we will let you know when available.
Given the terrific attendance and response to the Presentation, the club is now seeking to schedule additional sessions in the coming months, with the next one expected to occur in February 2025.
The proposed new Forestville RSL Club
Retirement Buildings Name Update
As we have been collating the votes received for the short-listed building naming competition, we have made a decision to also seek to confirm the name of the proposed retirement community. As a result, we will be postponing the announcement of the building names for our January 2025 Heart of Forestville update.
As always, we encourage our members and local community to reach out to us if they have any questions via www.heartofforestville.com.au .
We look forward to keeping you updated on our progress in the months and years ahead.
Regards,
Tony Mooney, President and Ian Thomson, CEO
Forestville RSL