Tensions rising over management of Vaucluse Bowling Club
A STOUSH has erupted over a proposal for Woollahra Council to take over the management of the Vaucluse Bowling Club site.
Wentworth Courier
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A STOUSH has erupted over a proposal for Woollahra Council to take over the management of the Vaucluse Bowling Club site.
At last week’s meeting, Residents First councillors Luise Elsing, Claudia Cullen and Lucinda Regan asked staff to investigate the viability of the council managing the Crown Land by way of a lease or ownership.
The Vaucluse Bowling Club’s long term lease over the site expired in 2011 and could not be renewed due to an Aboriginal land claim, which has been resolved.
Cr Lucinda Regan said this left the valuable community asset — which consists of two bowling greens, two tennis courts and a clubhouse with harbour views — vulnerable to development.
A State Government inquiry has left the door open for councils to manage Crown Land for community purposes.
“The clubhouse and the tennis courts are well used but I understand the bowling has been dropping off and the site is in limbo due to the stalemate over the lease,” Cr Regan said.
“If the council doesn’t put up its hand to manage it and the club can’t demonstrate adequate community use, there is a risk that it will fall through the cracks.
“We don’t want to oust the bowling club and we want them to be involved in brainstorming ways of activating and increasing community use of the site.”
Staff will investigate the potential creation of multi use courts to cater for other sports in addition to bowls.
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The greens are now used two or three days a week for bowls and croquet.
Wentworth Courier spoke to club representatives but they later retracted their comments as they were still in negotiations with the State Government over their lease renewal.
In a publicly accessible letter to the council, club president Suellen Basetti described the Residents First councillors’ proposal as “poorly conceived”.
“We presently have a one month rolling lease and have no reason to doubt that a complete lease is forthcoming,” the letter said.
“As we have previously indicated to council, once our lease has been confirmed we would welcome the opportunity to discuss how the club and council might develop our partnership further.”
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