FFA Chief Frank Lowy brokers peace in Hakoah Club’s White City redevelopment

Retail billionaire and Football Federation Australia Chairman Frank Lowy has stepped into a dispute between members of Sydney’s Hakoah Club over its planned redevelopment of the White City venue.

The Westfield owner personally intervened after a split among Hakoah Club members over differing plans for the neglected White City site.

The Board of the Hakoah club, which sold its former Bondi Beach premises in 2007, have long planned a community sport and recreation hub at the former tennis venue.

The Board’s plans include a football stadium and multi-sport complex, including an aquatic centre, new tennis courts, a child care centre, a cafe/bistro, gymnasium, children’s playground and offices.

However, a trio of opponents - David Balkin, Carl Reid and Andrew Boyarski – claimed that the club would have insufficient funds to develop the site, and advanced a proposal to sell three slithers of the land on site’s margins to fund the development.

With the three men commenting legal action and attempting to gain election to Hakoah’s eight-person board, Lowy’s intervention has seen a temporary resolution of differences.

The proposal put by Lowy and accepted by both parties was for  the Balkin/Reid/Boyarsky team to withdraw its nominations to be elected to the Hakoah Board, and discontinue the court proceedings. On this basis, the Hakoah Board agrees that, if by end of 2015, it has not been able to demonstrate to Lowy's satisfaction that its development application for both the community facilities and football facility will be approved by Woollahra Council, the current Board will resign at that time.

An explanatory statement on the Hakoah website explains “the Hakoah Board announces that both parties to the Hakoah dispute have been approached by Mr. Frank Lowy with a proposal to resolve their current differences.

“The current Board claims that it is in a position to lodge its Development Application (DA) for White City which includes both the community/social/recreational facilities (community facilities) and a full size soccer field.

“It further claims that this redevelopment can be delivered over time without selling any of the White City site. The Balkin/Reid/Boyarsky team do not believe these claims are achievable.”

Subsequently, Hakoah President George Farkas has released artists impressions of plans for the White City site – stressing that the plans were still not finalised as the club was yet to consult the community and neighbours and it was still waiting on heritage listing being considered by Woollahra Council.

In addition a website has been set up to promote the new plan called for the current board’s funding model.

Farkas has also stressed that “the Board is fundamentally opposed to selling any part of White City.”

Founded as a football club in the 1930s, the Hakoah Club grew into one of Sydney's wealthiest social clubs. Its longstanding home in Bondi (which featured gaming facilities, dining areas, function rooms, a gym and swimming pool) was sold for redevelopment in 2007 for $18 million and the club closed its doors on 4th November 2010.

Backed by these funds, Hakoah Sydney City East FC was relaunched in 2013 after a hiatus of 25 years, and now plays in the second tier of Football NSW competitions.

In the early 1980s, the club dominated the former National Soccer League, winning four titles, three back-to-back.

Now known as Maccabi Hakoah FC, the club has recently launched a new club logo and website at www.hakoahfc.com.au.

Images show (from top): Plans for the new community football stadium at White City, the planned Yoga Room overlooking the swimming pool, the new Maccabi Hakoah FC logo and detail from the Club's new website.

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