New chance to develop club
Sports Club abandons plans to redevelop Metropole, submits new proposal
‘‘ IT IS NOTED THAT THE PROPOSED VARIATIONS DO NOT ALTER KEY ARCHITECTURAL ELEMENTS THAT CONTAIN HISTORIC SIGNIFICANCE
PLANNING REPORT
THE owners of the Toowoomba Sports Club have applied to Toowoomba Regional Council to re-develop the popular watering hole.
Canberra District Rugby League Club had intended to extend the club into the site now occupied by the Metropole Hotel, but in a development application lodged with the council last week, it said those plans were no longer going ahead.
The Chronicle this month revealed the mortgagee of the Metropole Hotel had put the historic CBD pub up for sale.
Now, CDRLC have applied for a preliminary approval to modify the internal layout of the ground and first levels of the club, as well as establishing a mezzanine floor.
“Despite the increase in (Gross Floor Area), the external footprint of the Toowoomba Sports Club largely remains the same,” documents lodged with the council said.
While changes to the exterior will be minimal, they will involve the removal of the existing flame structures attached to the club’s facade, as well as relocating the building’s entry point to the Russell St frontage.
Part of the club’s application is for the modification of the heritage-listed Toshach’s building facade on Russell St to facilitate the relocation of the entryway.
“It is noted that the proposed variations do not alter key architectural elements that contain historic significance, with the general facade, masonry and roof forms remaining similar to that of the original development,” the application said.
The existing entry point on Ruthven St will be enclosed to ensure “the development presents a continuous facade to Ruthven St”.