The Vikings Group’s Jerrabomberra club proposal has been rejected. Image: Benson McCormack Architecture.
A NSW Planning Panel has unanimously rejected the Vikings Group’s proposal for a $36 million club in Jerrabomberra.
The Southern Regional Planning Panel on Friday (4 July) determined the development application did not address several concerns and that the net benefits of the club to the community “do not outweigh the anticipated harm”.
“The proposal, due to the nature and scale of use as a registered club, would lead to social impacts in the categories of the way of life and community,” its decision noted.
“The mitigation measures proposed do not overcome unacceptable social impacts, nor ensure the public interest remains intact.”
It found that managing patron and music noise levels, mechanical plant noise emission levels and traffic noise emission levels for sensitive receivers could only be achieved with a “swath of noise management measures including acoustic barriers” and an “overly burdensome level” of planning controls.
“The Panel considered that the need for such design and intensive noise operational management measures is likely to result in ongoing regulatory compliance given the proximity of the development to adjoining sensitive receivers,” it noted.
“Furthermore, the need to build a 3 m-high acoustic barrier adjoining the eastern southeastern boundaries also comes with its own adverse impacts including visual, security and social which further degrade the proposal’s compatibility with adjoining residential development.”
It had been intended for the club to be built in two stages, with three buildings up to three-storeys high, two car parks, a pond and a viewing platform.
It would have catered for 1320 patrons and the closing time had been changed from 3 am to 2 am.
The proposal was generally compliant with relevant controls and was architecturally sound but was incompatible with the adjoining development.
This sentiment was echoed in community concerns presented to the panel, which included: inadequate consultation; trading hours and the impact of anti-social behaviour and public safety concerns; inconsistency with low-density suburb; the existence of taverns already servicing the area; an ineffective Plan of Management; the recent refusal of NSW Liquor and Gaming to extend the Jerrabomberra Hotel’s trading hours; the affiliation of club to community as there’s no sporting club proposed for the area; the bulk and scale of the development; the social impact associated with gambling and alcoholism; parking and traffic issues; residential amenity; impact to high biodiversity value flora and fauna; and, that it didn’t comply with relevant planning aims, objectives and controls.
The panel found the development application didn’t comply with provisions of South Jerrabomberra Development Control Plan 2012 and was contrary to Queanbeyan Palerang Local Environmental Plan 2022. It also didn’t achieve objectives outlined for an E1 Local Centre zone.
The Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council had also been against the development.
Vikings Group CEO Anthony Hill said the team was disappointed the Poplars Club proposal had been refused.
He said the proposed venue had intended to deliver a vibrant and inclusive hospitality and community space for Jerrabomberra residents.
“Our aim has always been to provide a facility that reflects the needs and aspirations of the Jerrabomberra community,” Mr Hill said.
But the decision doesn’t spell the end of the Vikings Group’s interest in the Poplars Precinct.
“Our vision for this project has always been grounded in local benefit, and that commitment hasn’t changed,” Mr Hill said.
“We will continue to engage with residents, local traders and community groups in Jerrabomberra and Poplars to better understand local feedback and determine our next steps.
“There have been over 160 submissions of support, hundreds of positive social media posts, emails and personal comments. Many of our interactions during the consultation were not only positive but enthusiastic. This tells us that there is a place and a desire for what we are proposing to offer in Jerrabomberra.”
