By Amaani Siddeek
2 December 2024 - Canterbury-Bankstown Express
Jobel's Cafe is a Belmore institution, famous for its star blue-and-white regulars. But with ongoing Metro conversion works killing off foot traffic, the Bulldogs hotspot has been left on the brink.
The closure of a Sydney train line is “killing” a southwest Sydney institution, with a popular Belmore cafe on the brink amid a 30 per cent downturn in trade.
Frequented by Bulldogs players and staff, the 2025 NRL season now looms as a life raft for Jobel's Cafe and other struggling Belmore businesses, whose hopes hinge on authorities solving the suburb's critical lack of parking.
Jobel's owner Josephine Nakhoul said business had plummeted since the T3 Bankstown line closed in September as part of Metro conversion works that are expected to take at least a year.
Coupled with the local of local trains, two of the area's carparks have been closed off to the public and repurposed by Sydney Metro.
“There's no foot traffic anymore,” Ms Nakhoul said.
“It's killing us. Customers are doing four or five laps (around the block) and they can't find parking, so they give up and go to another suburb for their coffee.”
Ms Nakhoul, who started Jobel's Cafe in 2006, said she resorted for the first time to running coffee orders to cars outside her cafe and telling drivers to pay her later.
Hers is not the only Belmore businesses struggling to stay afloat following the shutdown of the train line, which is expected to finish September next year at the earliest.
But the upcoming rugby league season is providing some hope of relief, with two matches to be held at the Belmore Sports Ground.
The Bulldogs will take on the Gold Coast Titans in Round 2 in the NRL, while the club's NRLW side will play at the ground for the first time in a clash with the Canberra Raiders in Round 8.
Local community organisation Back to Belmore welcomed the fixtures, saying the matches were expected to draw up to 15,000 visitors and inject more than $250,000 into the local economy.
“It's fantastic for the local economy and our vibrant community,” Back to Belmore president Luke Cevolani said.
“The NRL games at Belmore are a key contributor to the local economy.
“We are confident that hosting these events – including the first ever NRLW game at the facility in August – will not only boost our local economy but also take Belmore to the next level in terms of sporting prominence and community engagement.”
But Ms Nakhoul said without adequate parking options to service the expected influx of thousands of supporters, the upcoming games would have little benefit for local businesses that were already struggling.
Ms Nakhoul said on top of the closed carparks, customers were being left with nowhere to park because some people were leaving their cars in two-hour kerbside spaces.
A Sydney Metro spokesman previously said two carparks had been closed to prepare for the installation of security fencing and would reopen once that work was complete.
A total of 12 timed and untimed parking spaces are also available on Bridge St to allow for the “fare-free Southwest Link buses to operate safely in the area”.
“Sydney Metro will continue to work with residents and local businesses impacted by the conversion to ensure they are informed of upcoming work,” the spokesman said.
A Transport for NSW spokesperson said the state government department was “aware of two NRL games at Belmore Oval in 2025 that will occur during Sydney Metro Southwest upgrade works”.
“Transport will assess and review Southwest Link bus frequency on match days, to ensure footy fans and the local community continue to have access to reliable public transport options,” the spokesperson said.
“Fans will be advised of public transport options in the lead-up to games at Belmore Oval.”
Ms Nakhoul said while replacement buses had been working well for local residents trying to get to work, they weren't adequate for the large number of families expected to flood to the area.
“A lot of the fans are families with young children, some of them in prams,” Ms Nakhoul said.
“And there are also people who need disability access. You need to think about them too.
“Imagine travelling in bus with your kids. Most families wouldn't want to do that.
“What you'll end up getting is families driving down, they can't find a parking spot, so they park in a no-stopping zone and then the rangers come out and take advantage of that situation.
“Either offer more parking on those days or just leave people alone.”
