The Board of the Cyprus Community of NSW has released its proposed development plans for The Cyprus Club in Stanmore.
The site is bordered by Stanmore Road, Tupper Street and Alma Avenue in Stanmore and is currently in the rezoning process.
This comes as the Community works towards creating a new hub for Cypriots and the wider local community.
The Development Plans:
The site currently comprises of a car park, six houses owned by the Club along the rear of the site, and the Stanmore Road building at the front of the site, which is approximately 10,000 square metres.
According to the development plans, the Community is proposing to divide the site into four buildings (A, C, D and E), as well as construct an outdoor park space and communal open area for public use.
A number of suggestions for how these buildings will be utilised have been put forward by the Community’s preferred developer, Platino Properties.
Platino Properties is well-known for creating some of Sydney’s most high-profile properties, from waterfront residential apartments to mixed-used precincts and over 55’s communities.
Under the current proposal from Platino, Building A at the front of the site will be retained by the Community and utilised by The Cyprus Club. A dining and gaming area, sports bar, and retail or office space have all been put forward as potential uses for the ground floor of the building.
Rental income from these proposed retail spaces will provide the club with the funds it requires to operate sustainably. The remaining funds will be reinvested to achieve the club’s purposes by way of giving back to the community.
For Buildings C, D and E, Platino has proposed the construction of over 55’s residential apartments. These sites will not be sold to Platino but rather leased for 99 years, as negotiated by the Community. This means that the Community will get the land back after 99 years, ensuring the longevity of the Community for future generations.
The Next Steps:
As these proposed development plans are now open to the public, the Community is seeking feedback from its members before it starts the Development Application (DA) process. This process is a formal application for development which is usually made to the local council and consists of standard application forms, supporting technical reports and plans.
Up for discussion with members is how exactly Building A will be used. In particular, what will happen to the upper floors of the building.
Some suggestions which have already been put forward by the Community include: a serviced office space, a function space for the wider community to hire, classrooms, a museum, or even emergency crisis accommodation for victims of domestic violence or those in need in order to give back to the Inner West community.
An exclusive suburb-by-suburb breakdown of NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics data between 2011 and March 2017, revealed that the Inner West suburb of Marrickville had one of the highest number of domestic violence offenders at 382.
Whilst the Inner West Council and local police have a number of initiatives aimed at minimising this domestic violence, the Club’s proposal will make the space a new hub for the wider community and not just Cypriot people, ensuring its future viability.
How can you have your say?
If Community members would like to have their say on any of these proposed developments, the Board is encouraging them to visit the club and view the architectural impressions and plans which are displayed in the foyer.
The rezoning will go to public exhibition on April 26, 2022 and will run for 28 days. The Community is asking members to lodge their support of the rezoning proposal by signing a submission paper that will be available at the reception of the club.
This rezoning process is expected to be completed by late 2022, while the DA Process is anticipated to be completed by late 2023. Work on the site will commence in 2024 and is expected to be completed in two years.
In the meantime, the Community will also be holding formal and informal information sessions regarding the redevelopment process. The first session will be held on April 17 at the Club’s auditorium at 3pm.
If the proposed plan is approved, the community will receive funding to the value of $45 million. These funds will include both a cash component to be paid at some stage during the development period and building costs of the front building for the Club.
For any further questions, please email [email protected] or contact the club on (02) 9557 1256.
