Melville Bowling Club to move according to Tompkins Park Concept Plan

Member Karl Kelers, of Alfred Cove, said he received a letter from the club stating the ‘management committee, through the president, have reluctantly and tentatively agreed to the move’ but he was concerned members were not consulted.

He was also worried about the future of the site, saying members did not know what was planned.

‘Is it going to be high-rise multi-storey development, like the Raffles?’ he asked.

City of Melville chief executive Shayne Silcox said the City had been working very closely with the president and executive team of the club for the past 18 months.

‘Approximately eight separate meetings have been held between the City of Melville and Melville Bowling Club to discuss the Tompkins Park Concept Plan, and to better understand what facilities and amenities their club will need into the future,’ Dr Silcox said. ‘The City is working with the club to facilitate the relocation to brand new state-of-the-art facilities approximately 300m east of their current location. This is an important part of the process of developing the Concept Plan.

‘While the City of Melville does own the land on which the club is located, future studies still need to be completed so no decision has been made regarding the future use of the site.’

Dr Silcox denied that members had no opportunity for input and said there would be further chances to give feedback.

‘On behalf of their membership, the Melville Bowling Club provided the City with extensive and detailed information regarding the future requirements of the Club,’ he said.

‘In addition, the City will seek further community feedback and comment as part of the development process for the plan, providing the club with another opportunity to have their input.’

At a club meeting on November 15, Mr Kelers said most speakers were strongly against plans to shift the bowling club.

‘Some of the management committee have been resigned to the fact that the shift was going to be forced on them by the council, so ‘let’s go for the best deal’,’ he said.

He said plans were presented at the meeting and on display at the clubhouse.

‘There seems to be a stand-off in regards to what the management committee find acceptable and what the council are proposing should happen,’ he said.

‘It appears that negotiations have been going on for quite some time, maybe years, with most members and ratepayers in the dark.’

Dr Silcox said a Concept Plan would be released for community comment early in 2015, prior to being endorsed by council.

‘The City of Melville will be meeting with all key stakeholders at Tompkins Park to discuss the future management model and operation of the new facility, including the Melville Bowling Club,’ he said. ‘This will be an important phase of the project to work with all clubs and resolve any concerns prior to moving into formal community comment periods.’