ALBURY Council made a stunning reversal of its earlier opposition to the Black Uhlans bikie club function centre proposal on Monday night.
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A fortnight after a council committee rejected the development application for the changed use of the Townsend Street site, the council voted 5-4 in favour of allowing the proposal to go ahead despite public opposition from NSW Police.
The game-changing move came about when former mayor Alice Glachan back-flipped on her earlier opposition and Cr Darren Cameron also backed the proposal as indicated in recent days.
The only councillors to re-affirm their opposition were mayor Kevin Mack, deputy mayor Amanda Cohn, Murray King and Graham Docksey.
Cr Glachan said part of her justification to change her vote was on the issue of the 32 parking spaces for regular club activities and similar concessions granted to a gymnasium on Young Street last year.
The Black Uhlans also modified its operating days to Thursday to Sunday since the committee meeting.
"Tonight I am a little more happy with the proposal," Cr Glachan said.
"The reality is with this development it is a concentration of times for the operating times and with that concentration of times brings the concentration of parking requirements.
"But I do have concerns with regards to the concentration of operating hours versus the non-operating hours."
Cr Glachan said she was still "very mindful" of the impact the function centre could have on the South Albury area.
Cr King grilled council planning director Michael Keys on a series of aspects of the development application which council staff recommended be approved subject to a string of conditions.
Cr King queried whether the Townsend Street premises were legal or illegal.
Mr Keys said: "As the report clearly states Cr King there are a number of buildings on that site that don't have development consent from council.
"This application is seeking consent from council for their use which would then make them legal."
Cr King also asked Mr Keys is the function centre go ahead contingent on the applicant gaining a liquor licence.
Mr Keys said: "No it is not".