Resounding no to tennis court development

The controversial plan to build a three-storey, 800 square metre block of flats and community centre for the Friends of Refugees of Eastern Europe (FREE) on the former Maccabi tennis courts has been rejected by Waverley Council.

The proposal was brought before the November 16 council meeting where all councillors present save councillor Yvonne Coburn voted against it. Councillors Tony Kay and Miriam Guttman-Jones left the chamber before voting commenced for “personal reasons”.

The motion had been foreshadowed at the finance, ethics and strategic planning committee on November 2 where it was unanimously carried that the proposal not be supported by council.

The Bondi View can reveal that two sites are being considered by council “with a mind to offer” to FREE as an alternative location for the community centre, according to a council source.

Waverley Mayor Sally Betts reiterated that the issue surrounding the application had nothing to do with FREE.

“The issue is that it is open land and it is incumbent on council to protect every inch of open space that we have,” she said. “I hope the tennis court operator will be able to continue operating, because they are the last tennis courts we have available in Waverley.”

Cr Betts also hinted at an alternative location for FREE’s community centre to be leased at a minimal rate.

Local Gabi Tobias was pleased with the result.

“Open space, private or not, is a precious, finite resource especially in Waverley which is the most densely populated municipality in Australia. It provides a breathing space, a lung to what is otherwise an intensely built-up community,” Ms Tobias said.

The final motion on the Wellington Street location contained several caveats warning FREE against taking the proposal to Planning Minister Tony Kelly.

These included two appeals to FREE, “to abide by the decision of the local consent authority”. In a sign that the council fears FREE may try and circumvent their authority, there is also a warning that “in the event that FREE does appeal to the Minister council will use the best of its endeavours to oppose the appeal including but not limited to obtaining legal and town planning advice.”