By Jolene Ogle
The Tewantin Noosa RSL has defended their plans to extend the club, saying the development will benefit staff, members and the wider community.
Speaking with Noosa Today, Tewantin Noosa RSL CEO Phil Stephenson said the club’s plan to expand the building to include a children’s lounge, an extra 125-car parks, a waiting lounge, a smoker’s terrace and a larger gaming room was a great initiative for the community.
Mr Stephenson said the club already employed over 90 staff, enjoyed over 200,000 visitors and contributed more than $400,000 to local community groups, all of which he expected to increase as the club expanded.
“Over the past seven years, the club has given over $2.5 million in cash and in kind to the local community,” he said.
“That’s an average of $375,000 per year. Last financial year was $421,000, and the current spend this year will see the club again exceed the $400,000 for this financial year.”
Last week, Noosa Today reported councillors voted to defer a decision on the RSL’s planning application, so an independent architect could review the plans.
In the general committee meeting on Monday 16 January, councillors raised a number of concerns about the development application such as headlight glare from cars leaving the site and the removal of the former Noosa Community Radio building due to historical reasons.
Mr Stephenson said he had already spoken to council planning staff in regards to possible solutions of headlight glare and said the removal of the old buildings was necessary.
Noosa Today was given a tour of the former radio station building, and the impact from a termite infestation before the club bought the building was clear. Mr Stephenson said asbestos was also present in the walls and ceiling.
“The building was of substandard quality when it was built and the ad hoc shop front was also of poor quality,” Mr Stephenson said.
The building was formerly used by the Men’s Shed to build photo frames, but the RSL has since built the group a new shed on the site and the Men’s Shed now operates out of their new location.
The expansion plans also include an extension of the gaming lounge. Mr Stephenson said the club had operated 180 poker machines for more than seven years and he was disappointed with Noosa Today’s article on 19 January, which said the plans included “an extension of the gaming lounge to allow for up to 180 poker machines”.
“(This) gives the impression the club is increasing the number of machines. This is not the case,” he said.
Mr Stephenson said it was also important readers knew the expansion plans included a new lounge area where patrons of the club could sit while they waited for a table in the bistro.
“The main message is there are many establishments that provide food, liquor, entertainment and poker machines in the Noosa Shire,” he said.
“But, I believe it is the community work that we do that sets us apart from the other establishments,” he said.
