Shock has been expressed at new plans by RSL Victoria and Grocon to replace the Williamstown RSL sub-branch with a cafe.
A community meeting in December heard that an application by Grocon to redevelop the premises into a five-storey building with a smaller sub-branch at ground level had fallen through because a heritage overlay made the project unviable.
It heard the land had been gifted to returned Diggers and the community for the RSL sub-branch in 1919. As revealed exclusively by
Star Weekly in December, the club was forced to close on January 3 because of a $3.5million debt.
However, an amended planning application lodged with Hobsons Bay council in January proposes to develop the club site into a five-storey building with 64 apartments and a 325-square-metre cafe on the ground floor. It also proposes 92 car spaces. An adjacent house owned by the RSL is set to be retained.
Williamstown MP Wade Noonan expressed shock at the new plans. “It’s disappointing to learn that the site of our local RSL will be replaced with a cafe,” he said. “Surely the decision-makers at RSL Victoria could negotiate with Grocon for the sub-branch to maintain an ongoing presence at the site as part of the new development.”
Save Williamstown spokesman Godfrey Moase said residents were rallying to lodge mass objections against the plans. “This is an injustice,” he said. “Grocon and RSL Victoria head office are taking one of our Williamstown community spaces and wringing the most private gain it can.”
Sources close to the RSL understood the deal between RSL Victoria and Grocon to develop the sub-branch site had fallen through by late last year and the property was to be placed on the open market. Grocon has previously said all comment must come from RSL Victoria.
RSL Victoria president Robert Webster said he had no comment at this stage. Williamstown RSL vice-president Rob Rowe did not respond.
