The development proposed for Bimbimbie would house three groups affected by the Black Summer bushfires, including the Moruya Antique Tractor and Machinery Association. Photo: Moruya Antique Tractor and Machinery Association.
A $1.2 million function and community centre has been proposed for a small South Coast locality.
Applicant Dual Design has lodged plans with Eurobodalla Shire Council for a four-building facility in Bimbimbie.
According to documents filed as part of the development application (DA), the facility would comprise three sheds, each with its own parking (for a total of 23 spaces) and two water tanks.
They would house three community groups – the Eurobodalla Woodwork Guild, the Moruya Antique Tractor and Machinery Association and the Classic and Vintage Motor Club of Eurobodalla.
“Each club was impacted by the 2019/2020 bushfires, and as a result it has been decided to combine resources and create a precinct for community groups within the Eurobodalla. This has been supported by community and government grants,” the documents read.
Bimbimbie is a rural locality in the Eurobodalla Shire, about a 10-minute drive from Broulee.
If approved, the facility would be located on a block of land with access off Bimbimbie Road, which connects to the Princes Highway.
Across the three sheds, the groups’ facilities would include storage rooms, toilets, a display area, a motorcycle workshop, a food bank and pantry, kitchens and a library.
The Classic and Vintage Motor Club of Eurobodalla’s shed would also feature a covered car wash.
The groups would share the site with an existing NSW RFS training centre, while the nearest residential dwelling would be located about 380 metres to the east.
“[That centre is] known as the Eurobodalla Hot Fire Training Centre, which comprises multiple buildings, and ancillary car parking areas. The RFS conduct various training operations from the centre,” the document states.
The DA also proposes construction of a new bitumen driveway, and fencing that would separate it from the RFS training centre.
The documents say it would have a “negligible” impact on nearby traffic, and the different groups in the development are expected to be open between 8:30 am and 3:30 pm, Monday to Friday.
“As the clubs at present have no premises, or are operating out of temporary premises, it is expected that [the] numbers of attendees may increase once this [the proposal] is constructed.”
Noise from the development is predicted to be “consistent with the existing use of the site as a training facility, whereby the use of chainsaws and other machinery is frequently used”. There are occasional helicopter drills.
The documents also note that the area is contaminated and the site is in bushfire-prone land.
“The land is identified as being potentially contaminated because of the previous land use at the site being a pine sawmill. … The site has various locations which are deemed as contaminated. These are identified by either signage or by being fenced off by signage.”
If approved, the sheds would be covered under a private waste removal agreement, and the clubs would manage waste by doing things like taking home wood shavings for their gardens or other waste to the council’s waste facilities.
“The nature of the use of the site is that there is limited waste as the clubs try to utilise as many of the byproducts [from their activities] as possible.”
Consultation on the DA, which has an application ID of DA0559/25, will close on 8 August. Submissions can be made through council’s website.
