Major ideas on the way for Berwick land

Discussions are underway to redevelop a prime site in the heart of Berwick village, to extend community facilities and the RSL building.
Casey Council and the Berwick RSL have their sights on a portion of public land on High Street, containing the senior citizens clubrooms and the Guide hall.
Meanwhile, the RSL has a concept plan that would incorporate a new facility of its own into a redevelopment of the site.
The council’s Berwick Village Steering Committee has identified an 8000-square-metre precinct on High Street, including the senior citizens clubrooms and heritage listed Guide hall, as suitable for enhanced community services, offices, and a pedestrian node.
Meanwhile, Berwick RSL has for some months been working on tentative plans for a large new facility with 400 undercover car parking spaces, on its own land in Langmore Lane and on the land that extends up to the council precinct on High Street.
The RSL concept would link historic Langmore Lane and High Street.
The idea is in its infancy, and the full RSL membership is yet to endorse the sketch plan. But discussions have occurred between the league and Casey Council.
Included in the RSL concept is a new centre for Berwick Senior Citizens Club, which occupies the site, upmarket apartments, and a convention centre.
The land linking the RSL and the senior citizens centre is on three titles, the council owning the largest portion and the RSL owning another substantial part. A small portion is also privately owned.
Both the RSL building and the senior citizens building are inadequate for their current uses.
Both need a revamp, as well as additional space.
News broke of the RSL’s idea two weeks ago among residents and members of the chamber of commerce, but RSL president Les Lucas said on Monday the initiative needed members’ approval before any official moves could occur and that the discussions with council had been necessary as a first step.
Berwick Village Chamber of Commerce president Harry Hutchinson described the idea as “sensational”.
The business sector is right behind the RSL, he said.
“A redevelopment would balance facilities on the north and south sides of the village, and the concept would provide an opportunity to bring a convention centre to the south side of Berwick.”
No development proposal is with the council. The council’s steering committee describes the public area as “a development opportunity for discussion purposes”.
Resident Ian Chisholm says development proposals for the village are coming in “dribs and drabs”, and that the community is left out of decisions.
“I am delighted with the idea of a pedestrian node in the council’s community precinct,” he said.
“But there needs to be a coherent plan for the whole village, a plan that starts on the largely greenfield south side of the railway line and develops the potential there.
“Then we will know the impact of traffic flows and development needs elsewhere in the town.”