Sydney’s Hakoah Club gets approval for White City development

Plans for a Jewish sporting and community centre in Sydney’s east were given a major boost before Christmas after a development application (DA) was approved for the Hakoah Club’s White City site.

In a major step forward for the club, which purchased the site more than five years ago, NSW’s Joint Regional Planning Panel unanimously agreed to the Hakoah Club’s proposal, finding that the application was “well-considered” and “will provide sporting facilities currently missing in the Woollahra local government area”.

The approved DA comes on the back of a report and recommendation for approval from Woollahra Council planning staff and councillors and also includes an approved with a 24-hour trading licence.

The $45 million redevelopment plan by the Hakoah Club and Maccabi Tennis for the former home of tennis in NSW includes a boutique football stadium, a football field, nine tennis courts, an indoor swimming pool, sports hall, gym and health studios, a child care centre, a cafe and community facilities.

Welcoming the approval, a delighted Hakoah Club President George Farkas stated “it’s sensational … the approval is a watershed moment in the redevelopment of White City.

“The approval of the building envelopes and proposed uses on the site is a significant step along the road to the building of the proposed facilities.

“Hakoah’s detailed Heritage Interpretation Strategy, with additions, has been accepted and approved as an appropriate ­recognition of the heritage significance of White City, so as to allow development to take place.”

Stating that it has been a “complex and very involved process” which has required an “outstanding collaborative team effort and exceptional dedication, hard work and perseverance”, Farkas said Hakoah extended its appreciation to the consultants and the many people involved in the project who had been instrumental in achieving this outcome.

He said the board particularly wanted to thank Phillip Wolanski and Allen Linz, co-Chairmen of the Development Committee, for their “outstanding work and dedication”, the Committee and Hakoah’s life patron Frank Lowy and his son Steven Lowy for the “benefit of their experience and wise counsel along the journey”.

Farkas added “as significant as the DA approval is, it is but one step in a continuing process required to achieve our vision to provide unique sporting, recreational, social and cultural facilities and a community centre at White City.”

Earlier this year an agreement, brokered by Frank Lowy, saw the current board given until the end of the year to work through heritage issues, planning issues and the DA for Council.

If by the end of 2015 the Hakoah board was not able to demonstrate to Lowy’s satisfaction that its DA would be approved by Council, it would have resigned.

The proposal involves demolishing much of the current site for a 19.25 metre-high grandstand and registered club, which will have a 24-hour liquor licence and approval for gaming machines.

The stadium once held thousands of cheering fans for tennis tournaments including the Davis Cup and, when redeveloped, will overlook a full-size artificial turf football pitch and an indoor sports centre.

27th April 2015 - FFA CHIEF FRANK LOWY BROKERS PEACE IN HAKOAH CLUB’S WHITE CITY REDEVELOPMENT

16th July 2014 - WHITE CITY SPORTS CENTRE REDVELOPMENT REMAINS STALLED