Amy Hume
A new option has emerged to revive Romsey’s old pub and Romsey Football Netball Club is at the helm.
Last Friday, the club announced a proposal to renovate and run the hotel with all profits returned to the community.
Speaking for the club, Darryn Hartnett said a board of local trustees would be appointed to determine how profits were distributed to local clubs and charities annually.
“There is overwhelming feedback from the Romsey community that they want a pub in their town. People have been talking about options to re-open the pub since the day it closed,” he said.
“We have been given the opportunity to lease and operate a hotel from the site with this concept. We think it’s a really positive and exciting thing for the community.”
Plans show the hotel would be completely renovated and modernised, with al fresco dining, café/bakery, wine bar, gaming, sports bar, function room and family bistro. It is expected to employ more than 70 people.
Romsey’s RSL sub-branch would also have the opportunity to be housed on-site, with potential for other community groups too.
While there has been a strong push in the community to see the hotel reopened, the proposal for poker machines stirs memories.
The old pub has a 150-year history but its last tenant shut the doors due to financial difficulties.
In 2009, owner Jim Hogan lost a long battle for poker machines to be allowed at the venue. Macedon Ranges Shire Council and a lobby group opposed pokies coming to the town.
The fight went to the Supreme Court and the decision effectively ended plans to expand and modernise the hotel.
It is unclear at this stage if RFNC would consider an option for a pub on the site without gaming.
Mr Hogan told the Express on Sunday the new hotel plan was an initiative of the club and he was “happy for them to have a crack”.
“Hopefully it gets up because it would be good for the people of Romsey,” he said.
“The club’s picked up the ball and run with it, and they’re to be congratulated for a brave and advantageous decision.”
The football netball club is directing the community to a website that asks for a vote between three options.
A new hotel is being touted as the preferred option and has been pitted against a fast-food restaurant, such as McDonalds, and high-density housing.
The high-density housing development is described as providing affordable housing in Romsey, including what is described as “a substantial amount of units dedicated to social housing”.
The Express understands that housing and fast-food are just two of many possibilities for the site in the future if the hotel does not go ahead.
The website also encourages those interested in the hotel concept to lobby local government and MPs for support.
Mr Hartnett was unable to answer further questions from the Express at the time of going to press.
The club’s plan for the old Romsey hotel site can be viewed and voted on at: romseycommunityhotel.com.au
