Gladesville Sporties: Decision on club’s $3.4m plan for new parking, playground, outdoor dining

A Sydney club says its plans to turn bowling greens into a carpark, playground and alfresco dining areas is due to declining uptake in bowls. But not everyone is happy.

Bowling greens are one step closer to being paved over and turned into a parking lot as part of a multimillion dollar redevelopment of a northern Sydney sports club.

Ryde Council is set to give the green light to a $3.4 million revamp of Gladesville Sporties at a meeting tonight after plans met a mixed response among the community and sparked a petition signed by more than 1000 objectors.

The development includes turning one of the club’s two bowling greens into a new carpark, while the second bowling green to be reduced in size to make way for an inclusive playground and outdoor dining areas.

Gladesville Sporties is one step closer to undergoing a major redevelopment

The project also involves modifications to the current club including the addition of a gaming room, alfresco gaming area, a new terrace and deck.

Other works include the construction of a new board room, administration area and chief executive office.

Gladesville Sporties, which has been operating at the site since 1959, said the project would better cater for its 3800-plus members.

A photo of the current club building.

Chief executive Brett Gibson said it also addressed declining uptake of bowls in the community and would give the venue a more family friendly feel.

“It’s a combination of staying financially viable into the future and also looking at what the community needs and wants and what we’re hearing is they’re more interested in a family friendly club rather than a traditional bowling venue,” he said.

“When we made the decision about three years ago, less than one per cent of our members were bowling and the greens weren’t being utilised.

“We have a lot of young families in the area so the board made the decision to give the club a more alfresco feel and also increase parking to take cars off streets.”

A decision on the plans comes after a petition was signed by 1044 people and club members opposing the loss of bowling greens.

Ryde Council also received submissions from neighbours raising concerns over potential impacts including noise, the “size and brightness” of new signage and the smell of second-hand smoke wafting into units.

One supporter of the petition wrote: “bowling provides a sport and social outlet for older people and young people as well and too many are closing or being made into big gambling venues”.

A photo of the current bowling greens.

“Our community has already lost a great deal of competition bowls – we cannot afford to lose another within the Ryde area,” wrote another.

Mr Gibson recognised there had been some resistance to the project.

“It’s all been dealt with – I heard some objectors took their complaints to human rights and anti discrimination but ultimately those issues were dismissed,” he said.

Following feedback from residents, the club has made modifications to the plans including an agreement to switch off LED screens on signs after 10pm and installing a noise limiter to ensure noise levels from music does not exceed 80 decibels in daytime periods and 65 decibels at night.

The club has been operating since 1959.

A report tabled to tonight’s council planning panel has supported approving the project finding the development to be “acceptable”.

“The proposal does not result in any significant adverse impacts upon adjoining properties or the streetscape,” it said.

“On this basis, the proposal is not considered to raise any issues that would be contrary to the public interest.”

Plans show the venue will continue to remain in operation during the development works and will maintain its current trading hours.

If approved, the club is aiming to have construction works begin in the next three to four months.