Council buys Batemans Bay Bowling Club site

Council has purchased the former Batemans Bay Bowling Club and Mayor Lindsay Brown says he is delighted to be able to share the news with the community after months of confidential property negotiations.

“Being able to purchase this important site in our largest town is a great outcome for our community and I am excited about the opportunities it opens up for Batemans Bay and Eurobodalla. We now have a large and strategically significant precinct which includes the club, swimming pool and Mackay Park sporting fields located in a unique town centre site.

“Council will seek expressions of interest with a view to forming a partnership to prepare a standout masterplan and redevelopment that will boost the economy and could provide the much needed upgrade to the swimming pool. Some of the opportunities for the site could include a new aquatic centre, an arts cultural cinema building, conference and event space, tourism accommodation, restaurant and cafes, seniors’ living and the integration of existing sporting fields into the future development of the precinct.  The expression of interest will determine if there is private sector interest in partnering with Council,” said Clr Brown.

Council purchased the club on Friday for $2.7 million dollars (excluding GST) after giving General Manager Dr Catherine Dale delegation to start negotiations last year, and agreeing to the purchase price at a confidential meeting earlier this week.

“Purchasing this strategic site is a financially responsible investment into the future of Batemans Bay and the shire. There has been strong support for Council to purchase this site for some time and we have already heard a number of suggestions on what can be done with it.

“Now that our community officially owns the new site we invite you to tell us your ideas. This will give us a good understanding of community expectations which we will consider with any expressions of interest received, and ensuring the proposal is financially viable and creates jobs and investment opportunities.

“This is another exciting project for our community and I am eager to get this started and see the results. I look forward to working with the community to achieve a good result,” Clr Brown said.