Canberra Southern Cross Yacht Club redevelopment given green light

Canberra Southern Cross Yacht Club’s plans for the first stage of a redevelopment of its lakeside hospitality facilities in Yarralumla have been given the all-clear from the National Capital Authority.

The club lodged a Works Application in April for plans to refurbish the ground floor, including Snapper, its popular fish and chips outlet, and build a new Pop-Up Kiosk Bar and Gelato Café at one end.

There are no conditions attached to the approval.

The application attracted only two submissions – one from the Yarralumla Residents Association supporting the proposal and one unnamed submission criticising it for not providing more toilets.

The YRA says there are no significant negative impacts on the community as there are no proposed changes to the existing building footprint or height or encroachment onto public land.

It says the public will continue to be able to access the adjacent public land for picnics and the like, and the redevelopment will extend the season for outdoor dining.

The other submission says the current toilets are inadequate for the number of people who frequent the site, as well as being dilapidated, unsanitary and unsafe.

“This has been the case for many years. There have been a couple of Band-Aid fixes over the years but no real effort to improve them,” it says.

But the NCA says in its consultation report that the number of toilets proposed for overall patronage and gross floor area is deemed compliant by the building certifier.

The club has told the NCA that it will not have time to refurbish the toilets this year before reopening for summer.

The NCA says the internal toilets are expected to be upgraded in 2022.

It says the toilets are private facilities for club members and the yacht club, but there are public toilets maintained by the ACT Government to the southern side of Mariner Place.

The club’s plans also include external pergolas to rear paved and decking areas and the installation of a new outdoor fireplace, outdoor furniture and shade umbrellas.

A new deck will have an unimpeded view of the lake after a row of five melaleucas is removed and replaced with dryland grasses.

The trees will be replaced by five new melaleucas planted nearby.

New glazed concertina folding doors will secure an elevated dining area.

Other plans include landscaping, new lighting, new waste and gas meter enclosures, and minor alterations to the building facade.

The proposal will expand the ground floor’s gross floor area by 73 square metres, but the upper level will be unchanged.

The outside temporary marquee structure will be removed.

The club restaurant and Snapper have closed for the refurbishments. The restaurant is expected to reopen in early September and Snapper in October.