A local group in Bronte has raised concerns over plans to build a Woolworths Metro at the former Bronte RSL site.
Save Bronte, a group formed by local residents, is voicing out their dismay at what they see as inappropriate and overdeveloped structures proposed at the former Bronte RSL site.
Bronte RSL Club
The former Bronte RSL club has served the community since it opened in the 1940s. However, the club was forced to close down in 2012 due to its direful financial position.
With the former RSL site no longer occupied, plans of redeveloping the area have been brought up a few times before the Council by different developers. Each DA has been opposed by the Save Bronte group, which is firm in its stand to go against these types of developments.
Woolworths Metro at Bronte
Talks of plans to develop a Woolworths Metro at the former Bronte RSL site surfaced sometime in March 2019.
According to Woolworths Metro’s general manager, Justin Nolan, the company is looking at Bronte as a possible development site for its store as they believe that the suburb is in need of a convenient and community-minded supermarket.
Here are some of the updated details about the development of Woolworths Metro at Bronte:
- Woolworths Metro is planned to take up the entire retail space at Macpherson Street. The size is approximately 280 m2 without the storage area.
- Woolworths Metro at Bronte is smaller than the one placed at Paddington.
- The size of the supermarket is smaller than the one allowed by the Waverley LEP.
- Deliveries will take place once a day in a loading zone at Macpherson Street.
- There will be no customer parking.
- There will be no alcohol for sale.
Despite the small size, Save Bronte stands firm in opposing the development. The local group raised potential issues such as increased traffic at Macpherson Street as well as the safety of children at the nearby Clovelly Public School.
According to Save Bronte, the DA will be compiling all needed documents for lodging over the next few weeks regarding this proposal.