Hakoah explains rejection of JCA plan
HAKOAH has written to its members following calls for its board to resign over the handling of the White City site development.
HAKOAH has written to its members following calls for its board to resign over the handling of the White City site development.
The AJN revealed last week that the organisation’s board convened a working party in conjunction with JCA to recommend development options for the $13.5 million site, but rejected the findings despite the three Hakoah board members on the committee supporting it.
Andrew Boyarsky was one of two board members who quit over the furore and last week called for the board to resign, while former JCA president David Balkin said the board should step aside if it didn’t have the support of members.
Hakoah president Phil Filler sent a letter to members following The AJN report explaining that the club could not acquiesce to the JCA’s demands, but wouldn’t be drawn on what those demands were.
“Hakoah’s board could not, as was required by the JCA, unconditionally agree to the JCA demands,” Filler said to Hakoah members in a letter this week.
“Numerous aspects were not considered to be in the best interest of Hakoah members.”
The working party had voted in favour of a proposal that would see Hakoah build a communal and social building and the creation of one football field as stage one of the project.
Stage two of the development would have seen Maccabi NSW given a capital appeal to raise money for a multi-purpose sporting hall, futsal fields and more sporting facilities at the site.
But when the full Hakoah board met it voted against the proposal, with Boyarsky and fellow director Harold Kopelowitz, who also voted for the proposal, resigning.
Filler wouldn’t go into details about discussions with the working party, choosing instead to reaffirm the board’s commitment to its original plan for the site, which was purchased in 2010.
“Proposed sport facilities include tennis (through Maccabi Tennis Club), football (the raison d’etre for Hakoah’s existence as well as the pre-eminent sport being conducted within our community), a gymnasium, a multi-purpose sports hall (capable of staging basketball, netball, futsal, volleyball, table tennis) and an aquatic centre,” Filler said.
“A modern clubhouse is currently planned for the heart of the complex. A child-care facility is also included in the current plans.”
He said that discussions with a number of parties in relation to the provision of the facilities are advancing well.
“The discussions are confidential to maximise ultimate outcomes.
“The Board will continue to pursue all potential ventures with organisations whose vision complements ours.”
Filler said he would update members on progress made at the 22,000 square metre site at the upcoming AGM, but it is unclear if this will involve information on the board’s rejection of the working party’s recommendations.
JOSHUA LEVI
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