Gisborne and Inverloch bowling clubs are benefitting from local and state investment in their facilities and appeal to patrons.
Thanks to the Victorian Government’s 2021-22 Local Sports Infrastructure Fund and a further grant from the Macedon Ranges Shire Council, Gisborne Bowling Club is now sporting a new synthetic rink, along with other upgrades.
Similarly, the Inverloch Bowling Club has also been able to upgrade its facilities after receiving a Victorian Government Community Sports Lighting Stream grant.
Gisborne Bowling Club is expecting a 30 per cent increase in participation of the sport; the deteriorated turf green was only able to be used for about half the year, due to climate conditions.
Aside from year-round play, the switch from a natural turf to synthetic means a reduction in ongoing maintenance costs.
The club was also able to upgrade its fencing, rink markers, scoreboards and other works thanks to the grants.
The total cost of the upgrades was $568,336, with the Infrastructure Fund granting $245,164, Macedon Ranges Shire Council assisting with $150,736 and the club using $172,436 of its own funds for the project.
It was officially opened by Member for Macedon, the Hon Mary-Anne Thomas MP.
Macedon Ranges Shire Council mayor Annette Death thanked the club for its hard work, commenting, “Activities such as these provide opportunities for socialisation and inclusion within our community, as well as physical activity, all of which is a positive for our health and wellbeing.”
Both Cr Janet Pearce, West Ward- Macedon Ranges Shire Council and Mary-Anne Thomas MP made special acknowledgement of Russell Walker OAM, who the green is named after, due to his hard work and dedication to the club.
Meanwhile, Inverloch Bowling Club celebrated the installation of new lights, extending available play time for the club into the night.
The grant was awarded due to a collaboration between the club and Bass Coast Shire Council, who worked together on the application to Sport and Recreation Victoria for the lights.
The Victorian Government Community Sports Lighting Stream awarded $104,000 towards the project, while the club contributed $44,000.
Bass Coast Councillor Clare Le Serve said of the project, “The Inverloch Bowls Club has demonstrated just how a club can deliver with upgrades to their facilities, with new greens and an upgraded pavilion being achieved in recent years.
“And today we see the next step in action, to get new lights, so the club can satisfy the huge interest of their members and the community who are keen to play at night.”
Club President Terry Seaward and MP Jordan Crugnale officially opened the new lights. Formalities were followed by a sausage sizzle and much-awaited night-time bowls.
