SUTHERLAND Shire Council will seek to redevelop the Caringbah Leisure Centre site and nearby Hay Avenue car park through a public-private partnership.
The sites, which are about 300 metres apart, will be "packaged" before expressions of interest for a joint venture are sought from the private sector.
A concept plan proposed by staff and endorsed in a council resolution envisaged development of the Hay Avenue car park to provide funds to upgrade or replace the pool complex and adjoining facilities, including public library, early childhood centre and senior citizens centre.
As a result of changes in the new local environmental plan, the council-owned car park could be redeveloped to a height of nine storeys, providing additional parking, apartments and open space.
Parts of the leisure centre site, which sits between Port Hacking Road and Jacaranda Road, were rezoned B3 commercial core, with building heights of 20 metres (five to six storeys) permitted.
The pool area's zoning remained RE1 public recreation.
Minutes of the Caringbah Centre Working Party meeting showed councillor Steve Simpson asked who was the proposed partner and would there be "community consultation to get a global picture, or will it be up to the joint venture partner?".
Cr Simpson said the community could be upset if a childcare centre or library was removed.
He said there was a need to convince the community of the council's intentions and that improved facilities would be the result.
Then general manager John Rayner said calling for expressions of interest from the private sector would "see if anyone is out there".
Councillor Kent Johns said: "We are not limiting what we can or can't do and what the partner may propose".
"There will be no constraints," he said. "Council will determine through the expressions of interest what will be required and council would still need to go through the community consultation and planning process."
A report to the council said "significant funds" would be needed to upgrade community facilities at Caringbah, including the leisure centre, and provide extra car parking.
"The opportunity should be explored to ascertain whether the Hay Avenue site can be utilised to improve the viability of the Caringbah centre and at the same time assist financially in improving public and community amenities in the centre," it said.
A separate report on the leisure centre, "which highlighted the urgency to upgrade that facility", was considered in confidence and is not available to the public.
