More consultation ahead for Torquay Bowls Club expansion bid

THE first phase of consultation on the Torquay Bowls Club’s expansion bid wrapped up on Monday, but the community will have another opportunity to provide feedback in the coming months.

The club has been lobbying for years for help to add a third bowling green to its site in The Esplanade, where it is located within Taylor Park, and in May unveiled a revised vision for the $4 million project.

These plans, which include a bigger clubhouse, extended decking area and new car park in addition to the third green, follow an initial iteration of the proposal which suggested connecting the bowls club’s car park with that of the neighbouring Taylor Park.

This suggestion sparked concerns from some community groups, including the Greater Torquay Alliance and the Friends of Taylor Park, over the removal of vegetation and potential for traffic congestion, and was later abandoned by the club.

The project is now confined to the club’s existing leased area, with the third green to be below standard size which, if the project moves forward, will restrict its use to barefoot and corporate bowls events.

“We’ve got a high demand for the barefoot bowls and for corporate bowls and for other bowls events, so that’ll satisfy that requirement,” club chair Peter Anderson said of the altered project vision.

 

 

“[The expansion] is not something that’s going to happen tomorrow. We have to make sure we get the right permits in place, because we’ve got over 420 members now and we’ve got over 50,000 visitors a year … and we’re just full to the boots.”

To move ahead, the project will require approval from the Department of Energy Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) and the Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority (GORCAPA), with the consultation process that has just concluded a key stipulation of that approval.

While GORCAPA has provided “in-principle” support to the club for the project, full endorsement also remains subject to vegetation and planning assessments.

“We’re working positively with the Torquay Bowling Club to help progress its plans, which includes engaging with DEECA and Surf Coast Shire on the relevant planning, vegetation and community engagement requirements that must be considered,” a GORCAPA spokesperson said.

“As land manager, we are providing guidance to the club to navigate the planning process and ensure that the site’s environmental values are understood, including requirements under relevant legislation.”

 

 

An application for a planning permit, lodged with the Surf Coast Shire on May 30, is also progressing. Its current status indicates “further information” has been sought from the club.

“When more information is required for planning permit applications, it is because not all information required by the Surf Coast Planning Scheme has been supplied,” Gabby Spiller, the shire’s acting general manager of placemaking and environment, said.

“Whilst we are unable to go into detail regarding specific information required for this application, once the information is supplied, the application will be advertised and referred to relevant agencies.”

This will involve another round of community consultation.

“If any submissions are received, they will be considered as part of council’s decision on the planning application,” Ms Spiller said.

For more information on the proposal, head to torquaybowlsclub.com