Edition 23/2020
December 10, 2020
NorthernRiversTimes
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OLIVE BRANCH ON CLUB UNIT PROPOSAL
by Halden Boyd
MEMBERS of Club Evans have been offered and olive branch, with an extraordinary meeting to discuss a proposed three story unit complex called ‘The Sandpiper Apartments’ on club land being cancelled for the 13th December. The club, formerly known and still trading as the WoodburnEvans Head RSL, is asking members to support a proposal which would lead to the sell off of club land for a multi million dollar complex on part of the exisiting site. The move comes after an announcement last year that the two largest clubs in Richmond Valley, the Casino RSM Club and Club Evans have been discussing a plan to merge to save money on the running of their clubs. This came to light as the Casino RSM loaned Club Evans $1 million in August 2019 to help it pay out Tabcorp Gaming Solutions (TGS) which was costing the Evans Head Club around $750,000 a year in fees to the corporation. The deal was that Club Evans could pay off the $1 million loan from Casino interest free over two years. It also involved suggestions that the Casino RSM and Club Evans RSL could combine marketing and administration costs and have a combined board, if members voted to
go ahead with a proposed amalgamation. In the proposed merger each individual club would have to see 75 percent of its members voting for the proposed merger or it would not go ahead. However in the latest twist to the evolving story the Evans Head meeting was postponed “We were approached by some members who wanted more information on the proposal so the board decided that everyone should get to see what is being propose, club president John Frederiksen (pictured, inset) told The Northern Rivers Times.
“One of the things about us keeping this reasonably quiet up to this point has been for a number of reasons such because this development of the 50 odd units is a development in the vicinity of $27 million which is pretty big.” “We will soon be putting up plans in the club foyer and holding information sessions which has been welcomed by our members.” One Evans Head resident Dr Richard Gates, whose father helped establish the original club just after World War Two, said that it was a good thing that the club was being transparent.
“The club has to be open about the exact deal that has been done with the Casino RSM Club over the $1 million loan and what the plans are to repay it,” Dr Gates said. “If this is not handled properly it could lead to serious consequences for the future of the establishment and it is good it appears that they will be putting all of their cards on the table which is the correct thing to do.” The Northern Rivers Times has been told if the Sandpiper Apartments was eventually agreed to by Club Evans members it would have knock
complex for 25 years with an option to continue after that time. The proposed Sandpiper Apartments would be on current Club Evans land along Elm Street, and extending towards the Evans River where the club has a small house and a two storey holiday unit complex. The proposed Sandpiper Apartments would extend to 15 metres back from the Evans River high tide mark. The Northern Rivers Times has been told the sale of the land would generate in the vicinity of $3 million for Club Evans.
These include Club Evans managing the apartment
commitments valued at $2.4 million.