Woden Hellenic Club has revealed a new master plan for a mixed-use development.
The plans include a 2,000 seat theatre, a new dining area and large commercial ventures including an office block and a high-end hotel.
The redevelopment is in line with the ACT’s push to move away from clubs’ reliance on poker machine revenue.
Richard Nash, Managing director of Purdon Planning, one of the architectural firms advising Canberra clubs on ways to rethink the use of their land, told Riotact that Woden Hellenic Club may face obstacles with their proposed development.
“Deconcessionalising club sites appears to be very difficult at the moment,” said Nash.
Deconcessionalisation, or changing to a normal or commercial lease, is the first step toward being able to develop club land.
“[It] is not that well understood by the community. A deconcessionalised lease gives a club no development rights. It merely enables clubs to then consider what other development rights they could apply for. And pay a lease variation charge.”
Other Canberra clubs looking at redevelopment include Ainslie Football and Social Club, which has released plans for residential development on its site, the Burns Club in Kambah, the Italo Australian Club in Forrest and the Canberra Services Club.
