The dilapidated ‘Fishos’ Club at Muddy Creek will be demolished and replaced with a new development with the final scope and form to be guided by a new Masterplan for the area.
This was the preferred of three options presented in a report to Bayside Council last night looking at the long term strategy for the Fishermen’s Club situated at the Muddy Creek Reserve at Bestic Street, Kyeemagh.
Option one was to refurbish the clubhouse, costing an estimated $5.5 million to bring the building up to a habitable state.
Option two was to replace the existing building after doing a new masterplan for the area.
Option three, costing $1.2million, was to demolish the building and upgrade the open space including a reconfigured 80 space car park, upgraded playground, community garden and dog park.
Bayside Council voted on option two, to demolish the current building to make way for a new development on the site.
This will be guided by a Masterplan which will look at a new site layout and subsequent plan of management for the site that “aligns with the need of the community.”
The existing building will be demolished in early 2019, costing between $400,000 to $800,000.
The Muddy Creek Precinct masterplan will lead to an amended Plan of Management for the site.
The final form of the new building, which will be subject to the masterplan, could cost between $2million to $9million.
The open space layout will be reconfigured included an upgraded 3000sqm playground, 500sqm community garden and 2000sqm dog park with foreshore access.
The existing Men’s Shed would be remain and there would be at least two new slipways and reconfigured swing moorings.
The masterplan would take into account the expected population growth for the area.
This was the recommended option in the council staff report which said it represented a “positive outcome for the area and an opportunity for council.”
The Fishermans Club, or the Fisho’s, was a registered club operated by the Brighton Le Sands Amateur Fisherman’s Association. In 2012 a controller was appointed to manage the troubled club’s finances and the club was subsequently closed.
The building has been left vacant and is now in a dilapidated state.
The Muddy Creek Boating and Fishing Association (MCBAFA) currently occupies a small area north of the main club building operating on a permit which expires in November.
The association offered to upgrade the undercroft area of the club. A council assessment found this was uninhabitable and would need $700,000 to upgrade, so the application was refused.
The council is in talks with the Muddy Creek Boating and Fishing Association to consider their needs inline with its long-term strategy for the site.
The building is on council-owned community classified land and falls under the Muddy Creek Plan of Management 2011.
The Muddy Creek precinct is planned to undergo significant growth including the Cook Cove Development, Muddy Creek Naturalisation Project and Arncliffe and Banksia Priority precincts.
“Given the planned growth in population, increased need for open space it is recommended the current plan of management for Muddy Creek be amended to reflect the changes to demographics envisaged in the area. This will also review the contemplated use of the club,” according to the council’s report.
“A masterplan will analyse the needs of the area and undertake a feasibility study to assist with a long term strategy for the Fisho’s Club site.”
As part of this a condition assessment was made of the Fisherman’s Club building.
This found the foundations were in fair condition and would support a refurbishment but the roof and shell were in poor condition and would require major repairs and refurbishment of the interiors.
While refurbishment of the building would cost an estimated $5.5 million, it would still need to be demolished witn 20 years, the report stated.
A further report will be submitted to the council in early 2019.
