TRADING UPDATE
I am very pleased to advise that the Club trade in the second half of this year has been very strong. Trading in the run up to Christmas in particular was extremely pleasing and I thank members for supporting our Club.
ALCOHOL & DRUG FUELLED VIOLENCE
INITIATIVES TO A NEW SYDNEY CBD ENTERTAINMENT PRECINCT
On Tuesday 21 January 2014, the NSW Government introduced new alcohol and drug fuelled violence initiatives to a new Sydney CBD entertainment precinct that includes the City Tattersalls Club.
City Tattersalls Club supports the NSW Government’s concerns to make Sydney streets safer for all.
Our Club has always embraced legislation and in fact it has implemented greater procedures than is regulated to ensure that safety at our Club is of the highest order. These measures protect all members, guests, staff and Club property within a safe environment.
Unfortunately, elements of the reform package will have a detrimental impact on our Club despite our exemplary safety record, which these blanket reforms do not recognise.
The measures which will impact our operation include:
- 1:30am lock-outs
(This means no Club Member or guest can enter the Club after this time) - 3:00am the service of alcohol must cease
These two (2) measures and others apply to all venues located within a new expanded CBD entertainment precinct to include Kings Cross, Darling Harbour, The Rocks, Haymarket and Darlinghurst.
Our Club is the only Club in the city and NSW that will be affected by the 2 measures mentioned above due to the scale of our operation. We are conducting a full analysis on the social and financial impact on our Club to allow for future planning of Club operations.
Our Club will be affected both socially and financially. Our gaming and beverage sales revenues will be impacted. Our gaming currently trades from 9:00am – 6:00am (21 hours per day). Full bar service is on offer 24 hours per day, along with Members and guests having the ability to enter our Club 24 hours per day with no restrictions.
Within the proposed legislation, the NSW Government has recognised that Sydney as a whole needs venues that offer 24 hour trade and as a result Star City Casino and the new Barangaroo site (that will hold Sydney’s future second casino) do not fall within the new proposed Sydney CBD entertainment precinct.
This will allow both of these venues to trade 24 hours per day with no lock-outs or alcohol service closures.
This new legislation will inevitably reduce the level of trade at our Club. This shows once again the vulnerability of gaming and alcohol related revenue streams and the importance of the opportunity that the current airspace development proposal provides in terms of reducing the dependence on gaming. I will provide more information at a later date.
AIRSPACE DEVELOPMENT UPDATE
As advised at the Members’ Briefing Meeting on 10 December 2013 and, as posted on our Club website on Wednesday 18 December 2013, I am excited and pleased to confirm that the highly regarded and reputable development company, Mirvac, has been selected as the preferred developer to work exclusively with City Tattersalls Club to progress the development proposal for our Club to the next stage.
Many members would have seen the widespread publicity in the mainstream print media following the joint press conference involving our Club and Mirvac that took place after the Members Briefing Meeting in December.
I remind you that the decision as to the development of our Club’s airspace will be one for members and as per our proposed timelines you will be asked to vote in July this year.
Members will have the opportunity to attend a number of Briefing Meetings from March through to July 2014. The topics covered over this period will include information regarding the overall proposal, Development Management Agreement (DMA), final clubhouse offerings, business model, council and development progress, Q & A’s and interim clubhouse offerings during the build.
The next Briefing Meeting (4) to members will be held on Wednesday 12 March 2014 at 6.45pm. Please note that we have changed this Briefing Meeting to a Wednesday evening due to the possible second chance Members Badge Draw on Tuesday 4 and 11 March 2014.
Members will have access to a dedicated development display area that will be set up in the Club near the entrance to the Lower Bar immediately following the Members’ Briefing Meeting on Wednesday 12 March 2014.
I remind you that all information regarding the proposed development is available on the Club’s website and regular updates will continue to occur.
2014 MEMBERSHIP RENEWALS
As you will be aware, the renewal period is drawing to a close.
I urge those members who have not renewed their membership to do this immediately.
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING, COMMITTEE ELECTIONS AND LIFE MEMBERS
The Annual General Meeting (AGM) for 2014 will be held on Tuesday 27 May 2014 at 6.00pm in the Celebrity Room.
The final date for Committee Election nominations is 25 April 2014. The Committee Election ballots will be determined by a postal vote by all eligible members.
The results of the Committee Election ballots will be announced on 28 May 2014.
As usual, the Committee will be putting forward a resolution at the AGM to elect members to Life Membership of CTC. This year 194 members have attained 40 continuous years as a Gold or Silver member.
If this resolution is passed, a celebratory luncheon will be held in the Club on Friday 30 May 2014 to present these members with their Life Membership badges.
EMPLOYEES OF THE 3RD QUARTER 2013
The employees of the 3rd Quarter 2013 have been named. The winners for the Front and Back of House quarter were:
Front of House Mr Damien Gibbons
Back of House Miss Angela Marlow
I congratulate the winners and all other employees who received nominations for these awards.
MEMBERS’ PROMOTIONS
I am pleased to announce the Club has introduced some exciting Members’ Promotions where loads of cash can be won! These promotions are:
City Tattersalls Club Badge Draw
I remind Members that the final Badge Draws will be held on Thursday 27 February 2014 at 6.30pm and 7.30pm. One lucky Member could win up to $30,000 in cash. The Badge Draw Jackpot has now reached $25,500, as of Tuesday 28 January 2014. The Badge Draws will continue every Tuesday and Thursday night at 6.30pm and 7.30pm until the final draw. Please refer to page eleven (11) for more information.
In the event that the final Badge Draw is not won on Thursday 27 February 2014, then the value of the final Badge Draw prize will be divided equally three (3) ways and won on separate second chance draw nights on Tuesday 4 March, Thursday 6 March and Tuesday 11 March 2014.
I encourage you not to miss out on the opportunity of winning!! You only need to be present at the draw to win, so make sure you come in. For more detailed information, please see page eleven (11) of the magazine.
Exclusive Members’ Promotion
I also remind members of the Exclusive Members’ Promotion where you could win either $400 cash or 10,000 points every day. There are two (2) draws for the cash and points; $200 cash at the 2pm and 6pm draws and 5,000 points at the 2.15pm and 6.15 draws.
Bill Buster Cash Giveaway
City Tatts Bill Buster Cash Giveaway commences on Friday 3 January 2014. Entries go into the barrel and the first draw will be held on Friday 10 January 2014 at 7:00pm.
Three (3) winners will be drawn every Friday night at 7:00pm to choose a letterbox containing a cash prize of $1,000, $300 or $200 cash.
BOONOONA SKI LODGE BOOKINGS
The Members Exclusive Booking Period at Boonoona Ski Lodge for the 2014 ski season has now closed. There are still vacancies but we request you book quickly as rates will also be advertised on external accommodation websites to ensure the Club maximises bookings throughout the ski season.
Members who wish to book for the 2014 Ski Season at Boonoona Ski Lodge can book online and receive immediate confirmation. Members who may prefer to book their accommodation via our Customer Service Centre can call 02 9267 9421.
The 2014 rates now offer discounts for bookings from 3 to 7 people over the low and shoulder periods and there has been significant reduction in the child rates. Please note that the child rate is for children aged 3 – 17 years of age. Please refer to page fifteen (15) in the magazine for full rates and additional information.
CHILDREN’S CHRISTMAS PARTY
The eighth annual Children’s Christmas Breakfast Party was held in Zest Restaurant on Tuesday 3 December 2013. The function was well attended and the focus was on two (2) inner Sydney charitable organisations; The East Sydney Community Based High School and The Girls & Boys Brigade.
The children had a wonderful time. Santa was there. Presents were distributed and even the parents got some rewards.
I thank CTC staff for doing a great job in providing breakfast for all.
Our Club pledged $20,000 to The Girls & Boys Brigade and $10,000 to The East Sydney Community Based High School. Each of these charities support children, youth and their families who often experience significant socio-economic challenges in their lives.
I would also like to thank the following organisations who contributed to the success of the morning:
- MIXFM
- Hong Australia
- Austrolex
- Bob & Pete’s
I think we can all be very proud of what our Club has done and continues to do in the charitable giving space.
CONCLUSION
Best wishes to members for a prosperous and healthy 2014 and I encourage all members to continue to support your Club throughout 2014. This year is likely to be a momentous one in the history of our Club and I encourage you to come in to the Club over the next few months to see the displays relating to the proposed airspace development and to watch for updates on the website.
Patrick Campion
Chairman
City Tattersalls Club
