Claims The Hills Bowling Club will be replaced by high-rise towers as management negotiate redevelopment
The Hills Club at Baulkham Hills town centre is planning to redevelop their three bowling greens and clubhouse, with suggestions they would be replaced by three multistorey mixed use towers.
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The Hills Club could divert its bowling members to other centres across northwest Sydney during the future redevelopment of its Baulkham Hills site — with claims the club has undergone negotiations with The Hills Shire Council to build three high-rise towers ranging from five to 15 storeys.
A confidential source told the Hills Shire Times the club started negotiations with the council several months ago for a proposal to build three mixed use towers — earmarked to include both a rooftop and indoor lawn bowls facility.
The source claimed the club was also negotiating to move Baulkham Hills Library into the community facility, which was also believed to include the amalgamation of the heritage building at Col Sutton Reserve to the proposal, a suggestion The Hills Shire Council denied.
The Hills Club general manager Damien Phelps revealed the club was “engaged in early stage informal discussions with council to redevelop the site” but no concrete plans for the redevelopment of the site have been made.
“We are in preliminary discussions with council and it would be inappropriate to pre-empt design or planning outcomes,” he said.
“However, it is the club’s vision to provide updated facilities and services to its members and the wider community.
“It is proposed that any development incorporates an all-weather indoor, state of the art bowling facility.”
Mr Phelps rejected claims the club could be closed for up to two years during the construction, telling The Times a staged development could see the club remain operational.
“It is possible that the club may temporarily lose access to the Hills Club bowling greens during any proposed development,” he said.
“In this event, the Club will look at partnering with another club in the area so as to facilitate uninterrupted bowling activities for its valued bowls members.”
The general manager did not rule out claims the club was currently negotiating the relocation of Baulkham Hills Library: “the club is a community-based organisation and is exploring all opportunities to add value to the broader community and its members”.
“There are a significant number of clubs in the north west region who have been forced to close in recent years due to declining revenues and reduced membership,” he said.
“Redevelopment of The Hills Club would ensure its long-term viability and allow it to continue to provide important member and community benefits to the Hills area.
“We are also committed to reducing dependence on gaming revenues and redeveloping the site allows us the opportunity to develop alternate revenue streams.”
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Mr Phelps said the club saw the redevelopment as an opportunity to provide a “social hub for the region, with enhanced facilities and contemporary food and beverage options”.
A Hills Shire Council spokeswoman said no formal planning proposal has been lodged to amend the planning controls applying to The Hills Bowling Club site.
“Council has no current plans to relocate the Baulkham Hills Library,” she added.
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