Dubbo’s premier club is spending more than $500,000 on repairs to its new property, function and accommodation centre Rhino Lodge in Camp Road.
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Dubbo RSL Memorial Club exchanged contracts on the property earlier this month with settlement scheduled for late August.
The club is understood to have paid more for Rhino Lodge than the highest but unsuccessful $1.8 million bid made by its president John Millar at an auction on May 24.
Selling agent, Andrew McDonald Commercial Dubbo, last week announced the sale of the property that went into receivership in April.
On Tuesday club general manager Gus Lico confirmed that work needed to be done before the facility could open its doors again for functions such as weddings and seminars.
“Our intention is to get it right up to scratch with all the correct documentation for council inspection and for the tick of approval before we begin operations,” he said.
On the work list are luxury safari tents that are “only half-completed” and in need of the likes of earthworks and plumbing.
“There are occupation certificates to be had on the residence and also the function centre,” Mr Lico said.
“There’s a lot of work to be done --over half a million dollars of work to be done.”
Builder Whitcon, which has renovated the Brisbane Street club, will undertake the work.
“In the coming weeks they will be going through the processes with contractors,” Mr Lico said.
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Rhino Lodge includes a four-bedroom and three-bathroom residence, night manager’s residence, two function centres, two bars, two kitchens and 14 luxury safari tents that can be expanded to 31.
Mr Lico said the club would get Rhino Lodge up and running and “down the track hopefully” build more tents.
The general manager anticipates the acquisition will require the employment of more staff.
“I can’t see that we can operate with staff here over there,” he said.
“We will end up having a person on site there at all times as well.”
Mr Lico said the purchase of Rhino Lodge would in the long-term be “a good outcome for our members and the city”.
“We’re in that business as it is now so we are not travelling outside our realm,” he said.
The club had looked for opportunities to “expand and sustain what we do”, Mr Lico said.
“I think it was a good opportunity that we didn’t want to miss,” he said.
Mr Lico is keen for Rhino Lodge to be operating “before the year’s out”.
“We have invested some dollars and need a return, the sooner the better,” he said.