A $64 million master plan that will guide the development of the Shellharbour Workers Club site over the next 20 years has been unveiled by the club’s board of directors.
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A new leisure centre, a long day childcare centre, fast food restaurant site, 120-room hotel precinct and a commercial health precinct are facilities proposed in the 2035 ‘‘estate plan’’ for the club’s eight-hectare site on Wattle Road, a site described as ‘‘a large and valuable parcel of land’’.
Over the next three years the board intends to spend $15million on the master plan, which includes investment in a new leisure centre to be a joint venture between the club and McKeon’s Swim School.
The club hopes to have the new leisure centre up and running by March 2016.
The centre, which will be connected to the southern end of the existing building, will include fitness and swim amenities as well as an adjoining cafe.
Other work to take place over the next three years includes upgrading and expanding the club’s car park, extending the club’s gaming section, development of a ‘‘community space’’ and transforming the club’s auditorium into a new dining outlet.
CEO Debbie Cosmos said the unveiling of the ‘‘big plan’’ followed extensive research on community needs.
Ms Cosmos, who has worked at the club for the past 19 years, said she seen a few master plans ‘‘come and go’’ in her time, but this was the first to be activated.
The estate plan has been approved by the Shellharbour Workers Club directors, but the club’s 18,500 members will need to give approval at the next AGM in October regarding the use of core and non-core property.
‘This will be required to enter into leaseholds,’’ Ms Cosmos said.
Club president Mark Climo said the leisure centre development would become the Workers’ Club second business outside its core asset, the Shellharbour Club.
Mr Climo said it marked a move from the club being ‘‘a trader to an investor’’.
Ms Cosmos said negotiations with a fast food provider on a ‘‘pad’’ on the corner of Wattle Road and Shellharbour Road were well advanced, while the club would call for expressions of interest to for the proposed childcare centre over the next few months.
The club currently employs 115 people. It began trading in Shellharbour in 1956 and moved to its present location in 1983.
McKeon's Swim School director Susie McKeon says a new leisure centre at the Shellharbour Workers’ Club will be a major boost for the sport of swimming in Shellharbour City, an area with a proud sporting tradition.
The family business had explored several options to expand into Shellharbour City before entering into a joint venture with the club.
Plans for the $7million leisure centre development will be lodged with Shellharbour City Council in coming weeks with hopes the facility will be up and running in March 2016.
The McKeons operate out of three locations in the Illawarra, with swim schools at Unanderra and Towradgi and elite-level coaching at the University of Wollongong pool.
‘‘We built at Unanderra 10 years ago and over the last five years we have had so many clients say we have to do something in Shellharbour, a lot of people travel from Shellharbour to Unanderra for swimming lessons,’’ Mrs McKeon said.
‘‘In some ways we are replicating what we have at Unanderra, but we are also moving into the fitness centre which will be a new branch for us.
‘‘We are excited to be able to provide a quality and exciting facility in Shellharbour ... there is nothing of this quality in here at the moment.
‘‘We are not only excited for the sport of swimming, but excited for the Shellharbour community.’’
On Monday, Commonwealth Games gold medallist Emma McKeon watched as a ‘‘heads of agreement’’ was signed between the club and the swim school.
Shellharbour Workers’ Club CEO Debbie Cosmos said the club was proud to be embarking on a joint venture with the McKeons.
‘‘They have a long history of success in and out of the pool and we are delighted that they will be on this journey with us,’’ she said.
