East Maitland Bowling Club has moved into the property development market.
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The club will develop eight dwellings on a Banks Street, East Maitland site opposite the club.
A development application for the project, which will comprise four three-bedroom townhouses, two three-bedroom units and two two-bedroom units, was approved by Maitland City Council at its July 11 meeting.
Council planners recommended the development for approval after lengthy discussions with the owners of the adjacent historic building the Red Lion Inn.
Council approved a development application for the demolition of buildings on the site in February last year. A development application for the town houses and units was lodged in November.
The four town houses will “address” Banks Street and the four units will be contained within a second building located towards the rear of the site.
A report to council said the site is located within the East Maitland heritage Conservation Area which includes the Red Lion Inn, the former Cottage of Content Inn, the Literary Institute, Matthew Talbot Hostel, Lands Office and East Maitland Public School.
Councillors Philip and Nicole Penfold declared an interest in the matter and left the chambers prior to debate.
Cr Peter Garnham moved a motion to approve the development subject to some conditions.
A number of club members were in the gallery for the debate. Club president Bill Hopkins OAM, addressed councillors during public access. He said there had been objections to the proposal but said the issues raised had been addressed in council officers’ reports.
The application was advertised in November last year and two submissions were received. As a result, amended plans were submitted to council and only one objector to the proposal was re notified of these plans as the second submission only related to proposed fencing along the rear boundary of the site.
One objector then lodged a further submission in respect to the amended plans.
The issues raised in the submissions were detailed and addressed in a report presented to councillors.
Site inspections and lengthy discussions occurred between the assessing officer, club representatives and the owners of the Red Lion Inn in an attempt to achieve a reasonable outcome.