Funding call for Mount Gambier Bowls Club

Monday September 03, 2018

Published by Member for Mount Gambier Troy Bell MP

Member for Mount Gambier Troy Bell is asking for the Liberal State Government to confirm

Community projects are still awaiting confirmation of State Government funding

calls on the Liberal State Government to support the Mount Gambier Bowls Club application for funding through the Community Recreation and Sport Facilities Program.

The Mount Gambier Bowls Club was established in 1904 and is the oldest regional bowls club in South Australia. 

The club has applied for funding through the Office for Recreation and Sport to construct an all-weather cover over a green at the club’s premises on Commercial Street West. 

“This is a once off opportunity due to significant funding being made available by the generosity of a member of the club,” said Mount Gambier Bowls Club Secretary Peter Clark.

A unique opportunity from an anonymous donor has presented itself.

“This opportunity may not present itself again and it will make it very difficult for the club to achieve a project of this magnitude in the future.”

This project will provide significant benefits to the club facilities by providing 1600-sq metre of covered space for bowls to be played out of season and additionally, to provide a venue for suitable community events.

Mr Clark said local contractors will be engaged to complete the project.

Mr Bell said he has written a letter of support for the project, believing it to be of significant community benefit.

“It will enable the club to play bowls throughout the whole year, rain, hail or shine, without the cancellation of scheduled games,” he said.

“I am also pleased that it is a sun smart initiative providing protection for players during the hot summer months”.

“This is a great initiative where a number of organisations will benefit by offering a multi-purpose and modern facility,” said Mr Bell.

“A number of organisations within the Mount Gambier electorate have submitted applications for funding and are still waiting patiently to hear whether they have been successful or not,” said Mr Bell.  “I call on the State Government to urgently announce which projects have received funding to enable these clubs to commence their projects”.

It is anticipated that the benefits for the Mount Gambier Bowls Club will include their ability to host events through the winter months providing the club with an increase of income.

The cover over B green will provide certainty for schools who schedule to use the greens for their students allowing them to participate in a game of bowls without the interference of the weather.

A long-term benefit of the cover over the green is that it will increase the life span of the green.  Currently the green is replaced every ten years at a cost of $180,000.  This will provide a significant saving for the club into the future.

Pending development approval, project works are expected to commence in May 2019.