Review of the Registered Clubs Industry in NSW - Clubs NSW

13 Removing unnecessary regulatory restrictions on clubs
13 Removing unnecessary regulatory restrictions on
clubs
IPART examined four regulatory restrictions that ClubsNSW submitted create an
unnecessary burden on the clubs industry: limitations on club membership size, club
sign-in procedures and the ‘five kilometre rule’, restrictions on contract caterers
serving alcohol, and the prohibition on clubs providing off-site catering. IPART
concluded that:
limitations on club membership size should be removed
sign-in provisions and the ‘five kilometre rule’ should be retained, but more
flexible provisions for extended temporary memberships should be introduced
OLGR should clarify the circumstances under which contract caterers can serve
alcohol on club premises
the prohibition on clubs providing off-site catering should be removed.
IPART’s considerations and recommendations regarding these items are discussed
below.
13.1 Remove limitations on club membership size
Section 11 of the Registered Clubs Act restricts clubs to 6250 ordinary and life
members. This can be varied through application to the Licensing Court. 242
ClubsNSW described the provision as outdated and unnecessary red tape. 243
This provision has been in place since the late 1960s and appears to have been
introduced to address concerns about venue over-crowding. 244 However, ClubsNSW
submitted that venue management issues are adequately addressed through
planning and fire safety regulation. 245 IPART also notes that that few applications to
vary have been received by the Licensing Court in recent years and all have been
approved. 246
242 Or from 1 July 2008, the CLGCA.
243 ClubsNSW submission, 31 July 2007, p 23.
244 OLGR, Sydney roundtable, 7 May 2008, p 52.
245 ClubsNSW, Sydney roundtable, 7 May 2008, p 48.
246 Information provided by OLGR.
Review of the Registered Clubs Industry in NSW IPART 207