FAST FACTS
ABOUT THE SITE
Where is the development site?
The old Camperdown Bowling Club site is located at 31a Mallett St Camperdown.
Who owns the site? What is it zoned?
The site is zoned RE1 for Public Recreation under the Marrickville LEP 2011. It is located on Crown land, managed in trust by Marrickville Council.
What happened to the old Camperdown Bowling Club?
This Council-managed site was operated as a bowling club since 1957. The Bowling Club went into administration in 2013.
Prior to Brand X (formerly Queen St Studio) leasing the bowling club building, the site sat vacant until February 2014.
ABOUT THE LESSEES
Who is Camperdown Project Pty Ltd?
Camperdown Project Pty Ltd is a wholly owned subsidiary of Canterbury Hurlstone Park RSL Club. Camperdown Project Pty Ltd was established in April 2014.
What were the tender conditions that the Council imposed?
The successful tenderer, CHPRSL, was acknowledged as the most suitably qualified and experienced operator to run the clubhouse and grounds with a vision to maximise community use.
Selection criteria included: a) benefit to the Marrickville community b) a viable business plan c) management capability d) good governance e) references and f) work health and safety and insurance requirements. A Council requirement was for there to be no gaming on the site.
When were you awarded the tender for the site?
Canterbury Hurlstone Park RSL Club was informed by Marrickville Council that it would be entering negotiations with the Club regarding the lease for the site in January 2014.
Canterbury Hurlstone Park RSL Club was officially announced as the successful tenderer on August 25, in separate media releases published by Canterbury Hurlstone Park RSL Club and Marrickville Council.
VISION FOR THE SITE
What is your vision for the site?
Our vision is to revive this community site and facility, ensuring it becomes a vibrant recreational hub, incorporating a food and beverage facility, and an urban farm that locals can be proud of.
Subject to DA, we’re converting sections of the existing bowling greens into a mixed-use community space including an urban farm, which will be managed by urban farming specialists Pocket City Farms.
Also subject to DA approval is a food and beverage facility with a mix of indoor and covered alfresco spaces, a meeting space for community groups, indoor and outdoor meeting spaces and a casual lawn area/childrens’ playground where young people can play.
The site is not a club so there are no membership fees.
Why are you confident that this kind of facility is needed here?
With our urban farm concept, upgraded amenities, outdoor facilities and easy access with subsidised spaces for the community, we’re confident that the revitalised bowling club site will hold tremendous appeal to inner west residents and visitors alike. We believe that the site will open up much-needed recreational space for the community and address some of the needs identified in Marrickville Council’s Recreation Needs Research – Strategic Directions for Marrickville study.
CONSTRUCTION SPECIFICS & CONSIDERATIONS
What are you building there? Will it change the height or size of the building?
We are completely refurbishing the old clubhouse building. We are also building a covered community pavilion and a covered area for restaurant/café patrons.
Our lease with Council requires us to provide a casual lawn area for children’s play equipment and light recreation activities. We are also required to liaise with Council on the design and equipment selection for the children’s playground.
What about noise?
Camperdown Project Pty Ltd will operate the site within statutory acoustic guidelines. This ranges from the selection of plant and equipment to building and architectural considerations and our operational Plan of Management.
How will this development affect parking?
No car parking spaces have been allocated to Camperdown Project Pty Ltd. Under Marrickville Council's Development Control Plan (DCP) the old site is well served with existing on-street parking.
How will you encourage locals to make their way there on foot or by bike?
There are a number of bike parking spaces on our plan for the site. To encourage locals to visit on foot, marketing activities will be targeted towards local residents.
FOOD & BEVERAGE
What kind of restaurant/café facilities will be attached to the venue?
We currently have a shortlist of prospective food and beverage operators for the site. In addition, we can confirm that the menu, wherever possible, will include fresh, seasonal fruit and vegetables produced by the on-site urban farm.
Will the premises be licensed?
We will apply for an On Premise Liquor License with a Primary Service Authorisation.
It is an on-premises licence that is issued where the sale, supply or consumption of alcohol is not the primary business or activity carried out on the premises (i.e. food must be the primary business). It is intended that the licence would permit the sale of alcohol between 10am to midnight Monday to Saturday, and 10am to 10pm on Sunday.
Will this impact on other local businesses?
Given the forecast growth of resident numbers in Camperdown, we believe that all local businesses will be able to tap into community expectations to enjoy greater success over the coming years. We are confident that our vision for the site is unique to the area.
RECREATION
What kind of recreational facilities do you intend to create there?
The site's recreational facilities will accommodate light recreation and wellness programs - activities like Yoga and Pilates, formal recreation such as the children's playground, and educational classes that may be held in the meeting rooms (such as talks on sustainability and urban farm practices). There will also be informal recreation from enjoying the chickens in the urban farm, to reading on the lawn, and meeting up with friends.
COMMUNITY SPACE
Between the bowling club closing down and you starting building, Project X has used the site. Will those people be able to have any part in the new venue?
Yes, the community space will be available for hire by local community organisations.
URBAN FARM
What’s the urban farm concept?
At the urban farm, Pocket City Farms will produce fresh produce using organic practices which will be used within the restaurant/cafe operation and excess made available to residents for sale.
The urban farm will be a place where the local community can gather to learn about all things farming and food growing, participate in composting programs and take part in workshops and events.
There’s quite a bit of lead in the soil in the inner west, is the soil really okay for growing fruit, vegetables and herbs?
Soil testing was undertaken in May 2014 by SESL Australia and Eurofins Agroscience Testing Pty Ltd.
Based on the analysis conducted, all results were compliant with the Health Investigation Levels for Residential A (HIL-A), or standard residential with garden/accessible soils including children’s day care centre, pre-schools and primary schools, which is the most stringent criteria.
Is Camperdown Project going to be the final name for the venue?
The eventual venue name and branding for the site is yet to be determined.
APPROVALS AND CONSTRUCTION PROGRESS
Where are you up to with development approvals?
Camperdown Project Pty Ltd will be submitting a development application to Marrickville Council in May.
When will building start?
Subject to DA approval, we hope to commence construction works in late 2015 with a view to opening in early 2016.