As Sydney’s population continues to grow and housing demand increases, developers are looking for previously untapped locations in established suburbs as options to create housing and commercial complexes – claiming both are for the greater good of the local economy. However the front-line victims of these initiatives are locations that have been essential services for the local community for many many decades.
RSL clubs, Bowling clubs and even tennis courts are under threat and have galvanised community groups to take action to stop the relentless commercialisation of suburbs by developers. Sadly these institutions are under financial strain as they, to date, have not adapted to changing demographics, and community needs. Despite this, locals have rallied to help keep these clubs from being razed to the ground to make way for medium density housing or large commercial clubs – both of which put additional strain on the local facilities, and services such as fire and ambulance and police.
Vulnerable clubs such as the Waverley Bowling Club have been confronted with development proposals that require council rezoning to accommodate the outlined mixture of apartments, clubs, functions centres. Community groups have reacted with concerns about increased parking issues, alcohol fuelled violence and the degradation of the features that are unique to their local area.
The Bondi Tennis Courts, Hurstville RSL and the proposed redevelopment of Easts Tigers Rozelle venue have all raised issues and opposition to the relentless redevelopment of these sites.
In terms of how these developments affect the local property market, some believe that bringing more money into a suburb will inherently raise the value of the property market – however many dispute this and see these venues taking away the real value of these suburbs, dissolving the community and ultimately devaluing the essence of the suburb in question.
But the fact remains that most of these venues are struggling to stay financially viable and if they want to survive, they need to create new ways of creating value for the whole community. Waverley Bowling Club has become a popular venue for events, and barefoot bowling but this may not be enough to keep the developers at bay.
The eventual outcome for these venues and the impact on the local community and uniqueness of the suburbs is yet to be seen. Change will ultimately be unavoidable and savvy real estate investors will be keeping an eye on residential developments as potential gold-mines as housing demand for blue-chip suburbs rarely wanes.
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