Katos rolls out $1 million pledge for Torquay Bowls Club

SOUTH Barwon Liberal MP Andrew Katos is hoping to roll up a few more votes in the last days of the state election, pledging $1 million towards upgrades at the Torquay Bowls Club if his party forms government.

Mr Katos visited the club on Saturday to make the election commitment, which would go towards the next stage of the club’s redevelopment works.

These include installing a new surface on the upper bowling green and enclosing it in a tent-like structure akin to those found in Queensland, as well as the addition of lighting so that bowls can be played all year round.

Mr Katos said the $1 million would also include minor upgrades to the car park, as the new surface would extend slightly north of the existing footprint.

“There’s a thousand members at the bowls club but it’s also a very popular community facility – there’s a restaurant, the rooms are hired all the time.”

He said the Liberals were the only party prepared to put money into the Torquay Bowls Club, as his party provided $1.5 million towards the $1.75 million renovations in 2014 that created the outdoor deck, new kitchen and dining facilities and disabled access, as well as a new home for the Torquay RSL.

The bowls club has larger plans in mind. In 2017, the club called for feedback on its proposal to build a third green over the front half of the car park, next to the existing green facing The Esplanade and the beachfront, with the aim of having it open to celebrate the club’s centenary in 2024.