Liverpool backs Austral indoor recreation planning push

Liverpool City Council has backed in principle a planning proposal for 495 Fourth Avenue, Austral, that would allow a recreation facility, indoor, as an additional permitted use. The Governance Committee resolved on 10 February to forward the site-specific proposal to the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure for Gateway Determination.

The committee also noted advice from the Liverpool Local Planning Panel and asked that Council be authorised as the local plan-making authority. If the state grants Gateway Determination, the proposal will go on public exhibition and community consultation under Council’s Community Participation Plan 2025 before a post-exhibition report comes back to Council.

The minutes show the Mayor, Ned Mannoun, declared a non-pecuniary, less than significant interest in the Austral item because his children attend the school across the road from the property. He remained in the boardroom while the item was considered. Councillors voted unanimously for the Austral resolution.

The proposal follows questions from councillors about traffic, parking and precedent at the site. Planning staff told the committee the traffic report estimated converting the approved commercial tenancy to a gym would result in a minor increase of 3 per cent on traffic effects for the approved development. They said Council’s traffic experts did not require any extra mitigation if the proposal proceeds.

The same meeting also approved $100,000 from General Funds for a case study and options analysis on commercialising circular economy activities. The committee said the work will examine the best operating model for those activities and may include a proposal under the Office of Local Government guideline for forming corporations and entities. The resolution made clear the study does not authorise a separate entity.

Liverpool’s streetscape work for George Street and Moore Street in the town centre was pushed back. The committee received the project update and a Community and Stakeholder Engagement Report, then deferred detailed design progress to the next Governance Committee meeting. That leaves the Liverpool streetscape plan waiting for another round of committee scrutiny.

The meeting also noted the Woodward Park Masterplan and the December 2025 finance report, and asked for a workshop on strategic financial decisions in March where possible. A separate discussion about the planned closure of Council’s Moorebank customer service hub stressed the need for timely community communication before it shuts.