A rugby club’s “ambitious” plans for a new clubhouse are now open to public feedback.
Noosa Rugby Union Club has lodged plans with Noosa Council seeking to replace the current building, which was built in 1992, with a two-storey, purpose-built venue featuring modern change rooms, spectator amenities, social areas and improved accessibility.
“Our clubhouse and change rooms have served us well over the past 33 seasons, but we have well and truly outgrown them,” the Sunshine Beach-based club posted in unveiling the plans last year.
In July, the council issued an information request about the proposal, which the club has now responded to.
Among the changes is a reduction of the overall building height.
“The proposed building has been adjusted to provide a revised height of under 10m, which is less than 8m when measured from the ground level of the car park at the rear of the building,” the club’s response states.
The council also requested clarification around the hours of operation, anticipated staffing levels and frequency of use, and for the floor area and number of food and drink facilities to be reduced to a maximum of 150sqm.
“Predominately the hours of operation are weekday afternoons for training activities into early evening, and Saturdays until approximately 9.30pm,” the response says.
“Food and drink outlets in the proposed development are ancillary to the main sport and recreation activity. They operate only at times and in support of the core activity – i.e. post training, home games, club member social/fundraising activities.
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“The upper level would predominately be used to accommodate sporting and recreational activities outside of the peak rugby use times – i.e. during the middle of the day – and include sport and recreation activities such as Noosa’s Living Well community programs, exercise programs etc.
“As ancillary activities of a contemporary community sporting club, food and beverage services are an integral component of the day-to-day operations, enabling the club to serve drinks to players after training and canteen-style food and beverage service during game days. Club fundraising and member social events (which may include food service) also provide opportunity for the club to raise funds to further cover operational costs of the club’s core function of providing rugby union activities.
“Any events outside of those ancillary to the club’s core delivery of rugby union activities are required to submit an event permit through Noosa Council’s property team, and is considered a ‘dry hire’ of the site which must provide for all conditions in the event permit including event specific traffic management, waste management, liquor licensing, risk management etc.
“These events are typically open-air events with the event activities located on the fields and not in the club house areas. Some minor use of the clubhouse by event managers as ‘back of house’ administration or co-ordination occurs in some instances. Given the nature of these events and the need for large open areas, this is not anticipated to change with the proposed new clubhouse.”
The document states amended plans have reduced the upper-level bar area and increased storage areas to better facilitate use by other sport and active lifestyle organisations. The proposed indoor open social/multi-use area of the upper level would span 318sqm.
The plans have also been amended to protect a fig tree to the west of the proposed new building as well as vegetation along the existing driveway.
The Dolphins field three senior teams, 20 junior teams, women’s and girls’ teams, and school-based rugby programs.
“This generational opportunity has been driven by a desire to establish a facility that not only caters for our club’s needs into the next chapter but also places us in a position to host state and international teams for training camps. The plans are ambitious and funding the build will not be easy,” the club posted last year.
The land is owned by the council. The club’s current lease began in 2010 and expires in 2030.
“It is reasonable to assume under council’s existing Community Leasing Policy that the lease to the rugby union club will be renewed in 2030,” the document says.
Public submissions can be made until January 19.
