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Bayswater bowling club in danger of missing out on funding if it doesn’t sign lease

Toyah ShakespeareEastern Reporter

FUNDS for synthetic turf at Bayswater Bowling and Recreation Club will be held until the club signs off on a lease in a move labelled “diabolical” by one councillor.

An $84,000 reserve was put aside for the club in the City of Bayswater’s 2016-17 budget, but a meeting this week council approved $74,000 to go towards a new $120,000 playing surface, contingent on the bowling club signing a lease.

The previous lease expired in April 2006.

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Councillor Terry Kenyon said the lease condition was “totally unfair” for the club.

“Some five years ago, council gave them funds to do the greens; there was no lease then,” he said.

“The lease will come, but it’s crucial they get it up for next season.

“I think there has to be a bit of trust… it’s diabolical.”

Bowling club president Steve Lay said the lease was currently with a lawyer and he was concerned it would not be finalised in time to secure the funding and install the greens by next season.

He said there was currently one grassed green, but the club could not play the whole season on it.

“It’s like a gun is being held to our head,” he said.

Mr Lay said with the addition of Street Roller Hockey League and three new women’s pennant teams, numbers at the club were increasing.

He said they were concerned with a redevelopment clause in the lease.

A City officer said a draft lease was sent to club, requested to be returned by June 30, with an extension to mid-July.

Cr Alan Radford said council needed the lease before funds were given.

“This club has had an awful lot of problems, the City has poured a lot of money into them,” he said.

“Other clubs, bowling clubs, we haven’t spent this amount of money.”

Mayor Barry McKenna said: “We’ve got the money to give you, sign the lease.”