North Manly Bowling Club could reopen after council vote
A POTENTIAL lifeline has been thrown to North Manly Bowling Club following the intervention of Northern Beaches Mayor Michael Regan.
Manly
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THE North Manly Bowling Club site could soon be a fully-functioning and licensed recreation club again, just days after closing.
In a confidential session on Tuesday night councillors continued to debate the District Park Plan of management, which would see one entity look after the 62ha sporting precinct.
And a week after rescinding plans to negotiate with childcare developer Arena REIT and ClubLinks to build an all encompassing clubhouse for the area, negotiations are back on.
Warringah Golf Club will be offered a one-year lease of the bowling club site while the council continues negotiations with Arena, However, in a move to strengthen the future of both sports
The motion, painted as a compromise by Mayor Michael Regan said the council would “facilitate meeting between the Warringah Golf Club and North Manly bowling club with a view to the golf club managing the bowling club facility and at least two greens under a one-year lease up to September 1, 2019”.
It would mean a licensed club could operate as soon as the council, bowlers and golfers can come to an agreement.
The move was painted as a compromise by Mayor Michael Regan whose motion narrowly won a 7-6 vote.
As part of the new direction, the council reconfirmed “its strong support for the District Park remaining in public ownership with an 18 hole golf course while also enhancing the site with a multi-sports facility for the whole community” in its motion.
The Bowling Club — which had merged with Manly Warringah Leagues Club — closed its doors on Friday when it became apparent to the leagues club its tender was unsuccessful.
Under the rescinded plan if negotiations failed with the first tender the second tenderer — a consortium of Warringah Golf Club, Next Generation Fitness and Tennis Australia — would have had a chance to negotiate.
A group led by Liberal councillors were pushing for both the top two tenders to negotiate at the same time.
The move, however, appeared to backfire, with Cr Regan instead moving to scrap all tenders received and negotiate only with preferred tenderer ASX 300 listed Arena.
By cancelling all tenders but the one led by Arena, Cr Regan said it allowed the golf club to enter into negotiations with both the bowlers an Arena.
“This is the way forward to ensure our vital community clubs are heard,” he said
“We’ve all wanted the same thing all along — a multi-sports facility for the whole community that is expertly run and enjoyed by a range of sports users.
“I understand the community’s concern and can confirm that this will mean the land stays in public hands, facilities receive a badly needed upgrade, an upgraded 18-hole golf course, and no residential development“
“This decision means we are a step closer to seeing upgraded, state of the art facilities at District Park which will remain in public ownership for all the community to enjoy.”