Gosford Bowlo still in negotiations – after 16 weeks

Gosford Bowling Club is still fighting desperately for its future – four months after thinking Central Coast Council was its knight in shining armour.

Council announced in February that it would organise a six-month seasonal booking deal with the club.

It sounded like it was stepping in after Central Coast Leagues Club decided it no longer wanted to hold the lease.

But after 16 weeks of negotiations, the bowlers cannot get Council to agree to them using the site for more than four days a week.

The site would be closed for the rest of the time – because that’s how “six-month seasonal bookings” work.

But Gosford Bowling Club signs up for statewide competitions that go all through the week and the weekend.

“Operating four days a week means we cannot function as a bowling club both socially and commercially,”

Club president Heather McColl said.

“The state and regional bowls calendar is extensive, and operates seven days a week for about nine months of the year.

“It is imperative that we are able to offer our greens for events so we can derive necessary income.

“We have been told that by the end of the six-month seasonal booking, we need to show that we are able to cover our costs before we can apply for a five-year lease on the premises.

“How can we do this while only trading four days a week?

“Our core business is weather dependent, so we need the extra days to make up for the days when trade is weather affected.”

The club was supported by the councillors in February when Council stepped in.

But the negotiations have been with Council administration.

“We can’t understand why the administration is so opposed to us operating under the same conditions as any other club on the coast – or NSW for that matter,” McColl said.

“At the moment the Council is paying for a greenkeeper as well as losing money for rent and rates.

“Our club is losing money as we have been unnecessarily paying insurance since the 9th of March”.

The club has members who play in the state competition but it also attracts school kids, families and business groups with events such as barefoot bowls.

In addition, the club has an All Ability Bowls program and has extensive plans to expand this.

“Many bowling clubs on the coast don’t have the human and physical resources to support people with special needs as we do,” McColl said.

“We can’t just take our program anywhere.

“We need to get back to Gosford so our members can bowl and our inclusive All Abilities Program can expand and continue to support people with special needs.

“We have the full support of some community groups on the Coast who are prepared to back our quest to get back to our greens and play.

“We just need Council to give us the opportunity to do so as quickly as possible.”

This week, the 15 councillors all received an email outlining the troubles the bowling club is having with negotiations.

Local bowlers are hoping the councillors can help solve the impasse and support this community endeavour.

Merilyn Vale