North Manly Bowling Club: Future of derelict site becomes clearer after council vote
Authorities have confirmed they have made a decision on the future of one of the ugliest eyesores on the northern beaches.
Manly
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One of the northern beaches’ ugliest eyesores is set to disappear after the council voted on the future of a derelict bowling club.
Talks are set to begin with a sporting organisation about setting up a public-private partnership (PPP) to redevelop the abandoned North Manly Bowling Club site.
Confidentiality regulations mean that the identity of the “preferred partner” cannot yet be revealed, or what activity it wants to operate.
The-once popular bowling club abruptly closed its doors to members and guests close to four years ago — on August 31, 2018 — and has been boarded up ever since.
Manly Leagues Club, which took over the bowling club, ceased its operations after management said it did not want to renew the lease due to uncertainty over a council proposal — which did not eventuate — to allow private sporting facility developers to control the area.
On the edge of busy Nolans Reserve, it has become the regular target of vandals and late night outdoor drinkers.
The Manly Daily reported in August 2020 that the council had a wishlist of five prospective activities that could be accommodated on the one-hectare site including a combined BMX, skateboarding, surfing and snowboarding facility.
Other uses the council suggested included tennis courts, small-sided synthetic soccer courts as well as indoor basketball or gymnastics facilities.
In February 2021, the council, which owns the land, invited expressions of interest (EOI) from potential private partners to operate a “suitable recreation use”.
The regeneration of the site is part of a plan by the council to turn the T-junction of Kentwell and Pittwater roads into a sporting and community hub. Across the road from the bowling club are squash, tennis and futsal courts, part of the council’s Warringah Recreation Centre, where Warringah Golf Club wants to build its new $6m community clubhouse.
Seven submissions were received in the EOI tender for future uses of the bowling club site.
At the council’s latest monthly meeting, on April 26, a resolution to endorse the preferred partner organisation and begin negotiations on a “project development agreement” and a lease as part of the PPP, was passed.
Council CEO Ray Brownlee said that should negotiations meet the outcomes required of the PPP, it would be reported back to the council for consideration to seek the Minister for Local Government’s review and approval.
“We are working through the process and hope to be able to announce an exciting new community facility at this site in the coming months,” Mr Brownlee said.
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