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Proposal by Woolworths Has Locals Outraged

22/7/2015

Locals are alarmed by an Expression of Interest from Woolworths to turn the historic Oval into a shopping centre with two levels of parking above ground and the playing fields on top.

Ground floor plan showing car parking and shops on existing oval. Supermarket in basement level.

The previously rumoured proposal by Woolworths has now emerged. Their ambitious left-field submission is for a shopping centre similar in size to Stocklands Balgowlah including a supermarket, specialty shops, a stadium/clubhouse and a 1000-space above ground car park.

The sports oval, tennis courts and bowling club will be reinstated seven metres - that's two and a half stories - above ground level.

“You would think we were in Singapore not Manly. Why would we even consider building a shopping centre on this site?” she exclaimed.

"Not only will we lose the whole of Ivanhoe Park including Manly's beautiful heritage oval, which is crown land, but the new development will gut retail in Manly's existing village centre and destroy Manly's most precious asset - its seaside village feel." Clr Bingham added

“One has to question the connections between Woolworths, the Mounties and Manly Rugby Club. And why do the Liberal councillors seem so determined to push through a car park on the oval site despite major public opposition”, Clr Bingham said.

Since the Manly2015 Plan was first released in 2011, Clr Bingham and many independent experts have questioned the financial validity of the oval car park project stating that the numbers just did not add up.

Other EOI submissions received, which only focused on an underground car park, will no doubt confirm the long-held view that Council has completely under-estimated the cost of building a two level 760 space underground car park for the $34m budget allocated.

Clr Bingham claims that the existing budget will only provide a smaller car park which will, in effect, just replace existing car parking spaces that will be lost due to the demolition of the Whistler Street car park and removal of parking from the streets.

“It’s time this council either scrapped the oval car park plan altogether or shelved it until the next election. As for the Woolworths proposal, it’s an insult and should be immediately discarded”, Clr Bingham concluded.

Expressions of Interest can be viewed here
Woolworth’s proposal is A-4.

Twelve EOIs were received for the construction of a car park on the Manly Oval site. They were:
AW Edwards; Abergelidie, Built Athas, Cockram Pty Ltd, FDC Pty Ltd, Haslin, Hindmarsh Pty Ltd, Hutchinson Builders, Kane, Michael Campareale (Campareale Holdings Pty Ltd) Richard Crookes Pty Ltd, Woolworths.

Three EOIs were received for the redevelopment of the Whistler Street site on a 99 year lease. They were:
Built Athas, Grengate, Grocon.

14 Comments

Andrew Hill

17/7/2015 08:46:58 am

I was assuming this was an April fools joke except we're in
July. To be fair I have heard nothing of this and before I comment I would like to hear Mayor Hay's take on this ( ie does she want, support it). If it's fair dinkum, then I am shocked and if it hasthe support of the liberal councillors then I am so disappointed.

Candy Bingham

23/7/2015 06:27:59 am

Thanks for your comment Andrew which is very valid. The Mayor has subsequently stated in the Manly Daily that she does not support the Woolworths proposal as has a number of other Liberal Councillors. So at least it would seem this one if off the table.

Fenny Louwe

17/7/2015 09:08:10 am

Please leave the Oval alone, and please leave
Wistler St car park as it is. So sick and tiered of Manly's current management. When are they going to listen to the community and the rate payers. Sick and over-it!. Thank you so much for the hard work Candy. Do you think we stand a chance?
Fenny Louwe

Roberyt & Diana Jones

17/7/2015 10:26:45 am

As a retired builder and resident of Manly I have thought the present Councilers in favour
of the underground car park on the Manly Oval site for a estimated cost of $ 34 ml. dollars a joke.I have been in the building industry for 55 years & self employed for 30 of these, I can only assume that the Councilors that have been involved in the on going persuit of this red herring have been on a continuing high of very strong drugs & can only hope that the Woolworths proposal and the idiotic thought of an under ground car park on the Manly Oval site will evaporate together with the people in favour.
Let us improve Manly as the best place on earth to live and retire as a fun, sun, surf and market orintated place to live and not another Warringah mall or Warriewood Square

Lede Murrell.

17/7/2015 01:16:00 pm

Just cannot believe what I have just read. Hope it's a joke in poor taste.
Can the Oval Scheme. Buy the old Civcc Club Site.Ideally situated and FOR SALE, Build a new Car Park there, and keep Whistler. QED> Lee and Jan.

Linda Monty

17/7/2015 02:15:47 pm

I do not know whether to laugh or cry. Just when you thought the Liberal Councillors couldnt get any more ridiculous they have gone and outdone themselves. Candy, you and the independent councillors really must be commended for your tenacity and commonsense and desire to "do the right thing" for the Manly residents. Thank you and best of luck with the dictatorship you are up against! It is so sad that the council that the residents voted into power are so hellbent on disregarding entirely the needs and wants of those same residents. I wonder if any of the tenderers are Liberal Party donors.

John Cowper

18/7/2015 02:42:07 am

I have watched this saga grow and grow and grow. Now the Woolworths proposal is really unbelievable and should be dismissed out of hand. Mind you, this is what you get when you try to push the envelope. Manly Council, lock stock and barrel should hang their heads in shame that the oval carpark debate on this matter has come to this. What is driving our elected representatives ... is it that they must leave a memorial of some kind, a reminder over the years ahead of their utter foolishness? Manly has a unique feel and ambience, Fiddle with it and you have destroyed Manly. Remember words of the the song "Big Yellow taxi"? by Joni Mitchell "And put up a parking lot. With a pink hotel, a boutique. And a swinging hot spot. Don't it always seem to go. That you don't know what you've got. Till it's gone?"

18/7/2015 04:56:43 am

Time for all of us to start voting people out - people who do not understand the area of manly, it's beauty, it's history , our Privledge to live in a small community and enjoy that privilege with its water, bush , family friendly access, such as walk to tennis courts , Saturday arvo footy and cricket to watch , and yes ( movies - another loss) . So if you don't get it - if you don't get that all around the world people are trying to create communities like Manly, and our councillors are trying to destroy communities , spaces and places like Manly - if you don't get it , it's time to get out . Get out of the positions that are intended to represent the people and do the best for the community . If you can't do this councillors , stand down and hand the reigns over to people who do get it . Or if you can't do that, you need to listen and to act in the interests of the community - mmmm correct me if I am wrong but the 'fresh food people' and others with proposals like that are absolutely, categorically ,NOT community . We are community , and we don't want it . No matter how you gift wrap it - jobs, economy etc etc - sorry we don't buy it ! sure put woollies underground - fine - put the entire shopping mall underground - they do this in Canada - woollies can have their supermarket and we can have our historic park and oval - left intact thank you very much !

Bruce Webb

18/7/2015 07:24:07 am

Woolworths have got to be kidding. They are losing market share to Coles at present and it really makes me wonder how they can justify expenditure like this when you consider they are already situated at The Mall and up the road in Balgowlah.

This is where the community not only in Manly but the whole of the northern beaches needs to rally against this massive stupidity not only on Woolworths behalf but also that of Jean hay and her Liberal Councillor cronies.

The community has the power, we can force things through that we feel are totally detrimental to the character and amenity of the area.

One of the first areas where we can make our anger felt is a total boycott of Woolworths, groceries, liquor, fuel and hardware, but we all need to be together and show our solidarity. Money, or the lack of it, talks.

Anna Stackpool

18/7/2015 10:32:25 am

Does any local rate paying resident want any of this?
This council is ruining the Kenneth Rd end of Manly and now they're determined to do the same and worse in Central Manly. I don't get it.

Jim

21/7/2015 06:48:23 am

Hi Candy
Thanks once again for keeping the community informed, pity Council don't produce a similar Newsletter.
The EOI's are certainly thought provoking and a lot for Council officers to assess before putting a recommendation to the community , We certainly need an answer to Manly's parking issues, with increased population it's becoming chaotic down here around the Corso Precinct even in winter. Putting cars on the perimeter has merit if a scheme that doesn't costs ratepayers a cent and could provide income for a regular tram around Manly is the outcome.

Whistler Street is a separate issue and your proposal to upgrade the existing car park has merit.

Keep up the good work.

21/7/2015 10:46:57 am

Hi Candy
Just taken time to view the EOI documents at Council which was a worthy exercise and gives lots of food for thought. The development of improved facilities for the Oval will certainly enhance the spectator experience which is much needed. The retail edge to the main road is worth a public debate . The car park which shows promise and could also become a much needed CBD commuter facility leaving the Corso Precinct streets for residents.
However there are no $ figures so hard to assess and there should be no funding by the ratepayers.
The buildings in the Whistler St proposal as shown in the sketches are under sized whilst the open spaces are over illustrated. I liked the photograph taken of the Taronga Zoo car park which is the way to go with extra floors built onto the Library as planned 20 years ago much as you have been suggesting.

Look forward to reading the officers report to the community and hope there is a public presentation. and to reading the financial proposal before drawing any conclusions to ensure there is no impact on the budget.

Bruce O'Toole

25/7/2015 05:15:21 am

Another ridiculous EOI buy a Corporate Retail thug.
It must not happen and the public and ratepayers must let the present council Liberal Councillors plus GM Wong that their days are numbered.
Bring on the next election

Kate

22/7/2015 04:42:52 am

Woolworths going in to the oval site is in my opinion just ridiculous. This whole thing started with the lack of good parking solutions. The existing carpark in Whistler Street is a dinosaur and inadequate for manly's current needs. It is also a poor use of space. The expensive pool complex being built is also providing very little parking to my understanding.
What about re developing the existing carpark site to be a better and more efficient carpark below ground with retail above in the market place precinct.
The problem with ignoring the parking issues is that our streets outside our homes become impossible to park in. Like it or not there are more people moving to the area and we need better infrastructure solutions that work for the most of us.
That being said I am not a supporter of the current council and its decisions - they seem endlessly researched and poorly considered.
Time for some new blood!!!

Proposal by Woolworths Has Locals Outraged

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