Bundeena RSL Memorial Club will merge with Cabramatta Bowling Club after the arrangement was approved by members of both clubs.
The Bundeena club’s board of directors recommended amalgamation as the only financially viable means of rebuilding the premises, which were severely damaged by fire in February, 2015.
Work is expected to start soon, with the hope the building will be able to reopen by Christmas this year.
A meeting of more than 200 Bundeena memorial club members voted unanimously for the merger at a meeting on April 23.
Cabramatta club members, by a proportion of two to one, voted in support on April 27,.
Bundeena RSL Memorial Club will be wound up once the amalgamation is ratified by the Office of Liquor and Gaming.
The new enterprise, which will be owned solely by Cabramatta Bowling Club, will be named Bundeena Community and Services Club.
Bundeena RSL Club Sub-branch, which owned the building and received $3.5 million in insurance after the fire, subsequently sold the property to the memorial club after unsuccessful negotiations over lease arrangements.
The sub-branch will have no financial interest in the new club, but will be provided with office space, and RSL traditions, including the daily recitation of the Ode, will continue.
Memorial club president Graeme Kelly, who is also secretary of the United Services Union, said he wasn’t the president at the time, “but the relationship between the memorial club and the sub-branch became quite acrimonious”.
“They were desperate times, and there was a lot of emotion about,” he said.
“They couldn’t come to agreement on lease arrangements and they both decided to go their separate ways.
“It is what it is, and we have moved on.”
Mr Kelly said the memorial club did not have the funds to rebuild the premises, “which are just a shell”.
“They are valued at about $1.8 million and there are few funds in the bank,” he said.
“We sought expressions of interest for a private investor to take part in a joint venture, but we had absolutely no takers.
“It became desperately obvious to us that that the only way we had a reasonable prospect of the club being able to survive was to seek an amalgamation under the Registered Clubs Act.”
Mr Kelly said three clubs, including two from Sutherland Shire, who could not be named, had submitted expressions of interest, but had subsequently withdrawn them.
”That left Cabramatta Bowling Club, with whom we have had a long association,” he said.
Mr Kelly said, in 2008, the Bundeena club “fell on hard times” after the state government introduced a smoking ban and then the global financial crisis hit.
A merger with the Cabaramatta club had nearly occurred at that time, “but they had a meeting and we lost their support by one vote”.
“This time there is a genuine commitment by both clubs to make this merger work,” he said.
”Last night [when the vote at Cabramatta was taken] was the icing on the cake.
“It gives us hope we can have a new, modern facility for members, guests and visitors.
“Opportunities for new features for the club are already being discussed.
“We are looking at providing guided tours of the national park with a new courtesy bus, which will also be for members.”
Mr Kelly said Bundeena was “desperately in need of a new club”.
“The message we received loud and clear from over 200 members, who voted unanimously to move ahead, was they believe this move is right for our club and town,” he said.
“The fire ripped the social fabric of our town.
”It had a big economic effect, which we have struggled with for some time.
“The club was the largest employer, providing over 25 jobs.”
Mr Kelly said the new club was also needed to cater for a huge increase in visitor numbers to the area.
“Bundeena is now on the map, with 10,000 visitors every weekend,” he said.
“We can’t fit them on the ferries.
“While we have a number of cafes and eateries in the town, we believe the club, on the banks of the Hacking River in a beautiful location, is an ideal place for people to enjoy nice views while enjoying good food.”
Mr Kelly said Cabramatta Bowling Club was looking to diversify its assets and business.
“It’s no secret that they predicate their income on gaming,” he said.
“Bundeena is a new opportunity for them to diversify their business direction with tourism and good food.”
Mr Kelly said the Cabramatta club board would consider increasing the number of poker machines at Bundeena.
At present, there are 14 machines.
Mr Kelly said there would be an opportunity for two Bundeena people to nominate for the board of Cabramatta Bowling Club, and he intended to do so.