By Cam Lucadou-Wells
Rolling on a wave of success, Narre Warren Bowls Club has scored funding for a new synthetic green at its Magid Drive headquarters.
The project landed $150,000 in the upcoming 2018-‘19 State Budget on top of $20,000 of federal funds.
Club president Eric Sydenham said the artificial green will be a boon for the 170-member club for the next 15-plus years.
It will remove the expense and time of tending, spraying and rolling the existing grass green – and make all of the rinks available every day of the year.
“We had to stop using the grass green for three months to allow it to recover, and had to send our teams to nearby clubs to play,” Mr Sydenham said.
“We won’t have that problem again – as long as it’s not hailing.”
It is further good news for the club, which recently replaced a synthetic green that was damaged by floodwaters.
Mr Sydenham said the club was thriving financially and in pennant competition.
Two of its teams were promoted up a division after winning finals.
A side also came a competitive second out of 80 teams in a regional final against Palm Lakes in Melbourne’s West.
It has big plans to drive up members by taking advantage of its prime location near Fountain Gate shopping centre and Bunjil Place.
The club has opened its doors to all-ability bowlers, bare-foot and social members, as well as welcoming work functions and Christmas parties to use its greens and clubrooms.
Ambitiously there are also plans for a light-weight translucent canopy with LED ceiling lights to ensure the greens operate rain, hail or shine.
The club hopes the $235,000 synthetic green will be installed by the start of pennant competition in November.
Narre Warren North MP Luke Donnellan said the funding will help the club “train, compete and grow”.
“Clubs like Narre Warren Bowls Club are the cornerstone of local communities – that’s why we’re backing them with record investment.”
The funding was provided through the State Government’s $60 million Community Sports Fund as part of the State Budget.
