City scraps metal facade idea

CONSTRUCTION of an upgraded Barwon Heads Bowling Club Pavilion will soon start with tweaked designs after the City of Greater Geelong considered community views on its proposal.

The city will incorporate more natural timber elements to the building’s exterior, matching nearby buildings such as the Village Park kindergarten.

Designs opened for feedback in February and the city received 24 submissions – 13 of which objected to the planned timber panel-Colourbond steel design.

The city has agreed to change the facade to a more natural look that locals believe is a better fit for the surrounding area.

“Community feedback indicated that council was on track with most aspects of the original design in line with the master plan, although some feedback collected from the community that proposed building materials proposed would not meet the casual, coastal landscape setting that would ensure the new building would not be visually dominant within the park,” a council report stated.

“As a result of the community feedback received, the Barwon Heads Bowling Club Pavilion project will source and use the same timber building materials as the Bop Bop Karrong Kindergarten for the external finish of the new bowling club pavilion.”

The city has also committed to ensure there is appropriate planting and screening at the rear of the building to maintain natural parkland views entry to Barwon Heads.

The bowls club build is part of the Barwon Heads Village Park Masterplan, which the council endorsed in October last year.