The President of Mosman Club, Jim Malloch, has addressed concerns regarding Woolworths, assuring members that the “Club’s property is not for sale”.
Below is an extract from the President’s Report presented at the Club’s AGM on 15 May 2019.
… I would like to speak to the Club’s position regarding Woolworths and a possible development around the Club’s property. I can confirm that we have been approached and had some helicopter view preliminary discussions as a Board and executive with representatives of Woolworths, who have confirmed they have purchased property around us. We reported this at the 2017 Annual Meeting.
We remain an interested neighbour, and will continue dialogue with representatives of Woolworths if invited, as it is imperative we understand the environment in which we operate. But I stress the following points:
– The Club’s property is not for sale nor is there any appetite or desire within the Board or members we have anecdotally engaged with to move the Club;
– We are trading better than we have for many years, so there is no need to explore this option;
– We have just spent considerable money refurbishing and rebranding the business to ensure our long term survival.
Further, the Club has received no invitation to deal with, nor any offer from Woolworths. If that changes, The Board will inform the members at that time, but it is premature to engage with the membership now when we are not aware of any plans or DA being lodged. Council has also confirmed they have received none.
To allay any fears, members should understand that if an offer is made by any third party regarding core property that the Board considers material (we do get some ridiculous approaches time to time that are dismissed immediately), it is the members alone who decide whether the offer is to the benefit of the Club, or indeed the community at large. The Board and management would never consider, and are prohibited under legislation regardless, to sell core property without the membership demanding it. It just cannot be done. I cannot be any clearer.
If some people in the community are spreading rumours to the contrary, they are completely and plainly wrong, and their motivations and agendas should be questioned and exposed. The greatest defense [sic] against external threats, including a site development, is a thriving and engaged Club catering to the wider community. Thankfully we have a predominately supportive membership ensuring exactly that.