All-weather bowling is a step closer for the Mount Gambier Bowls Club, with the construction of its new $500,000 curved roof structure.

The Commercial Street West club has been working towards covering a section of its greens for 17 years.

“B” Green coordinator Peter Clark said in 2004 the club applied for a cover over the then “D” Green, proposing to use LVL, manufactured in Nangwarry, for the main structure.

Working with Mount Gambier City council, a local design business was engaged to develop the concept, resulting in a proposal for a curved roof building with a particleboard floor and carpet green.

“Sadly the cost ballooned out to $800,000, well beyond the concept plan and out of reach of the club,” Mr Clark said. “The project was shelved and ‘D’ Green was converted into parking two years later.”

Mr Clark said 10 years later the club was given the opportunity to revisit the proposal when benefactor Bob Cranwell made a substantial donation, prompting members to opt for a cover over ‘B’ Green.

“Investigation of all the options started in 2016 with proposals from Qld, NSW and Western Australia. These proposals included fabric covered structures, to a 15-metre-high steel frame and corrugated iron building,” he said.

“Fabric covered designs ranged from $800,000 to $1.2m and even with Bob’s generosity these were beyond the financial capacity of the club.

“The investigation continued with the objective being to find a structure that would offer the aesthetic qualities of the fabric roof but at much lower cost. The club had the concept of 2004 of a curved roof offering the most attractive profile and the quest reached a conclusion when the committee visited The Parham cattle sheds at Kongorong and a number of other curved roof designs used for commercial buildings.

“A curved roof offered low profile and comparatively light steel structure.

Drawings were produced and discussion began with council while at the same time the club applied for State Government assistance and obtained a $100,000 grant in August 2017.”

Mr Clark said the club then made a submission to council and with the exception of the Heritage Advisor, received advisory support. “We still had to get development approval on a site the Heritage Advisor insisted had to meet the criteria of not impacting the war memorial gates or the grand stand that are heritage listed and the area listed as Local Heritage in the city plan,” he said.

“The club was encouraged to continue by the officers to find a concept that would meet the criteria, but the Heritage Advisor remained against any large building on Vansittart Park, despite council supporting the North Gambier Football Club two storey club rooms concept a few years before.

“The club continued to offer variations in design and sought support for the original Vansittart gift of land to the city around 1900 for the purposes of sport and recreation. The future of bowls nationally is to have all weather protection and many clubs are installing covers to extend the season.”

Mr Clark said the club revisited the proposal in earnest in 2019, with council’s then-CEO Andrew Meddle reviewing the design.

“Andrew chaired a number of meetings to find a resolution and after a number of weeks it was agreed the Heritage Advisor would be engaged to design a building that could be accepted by all parties and would negate his concerns,” he said.

“A design was undertaken but the cost was driven up to approximately $750,000, which was well beyond the club’s financial capacity. “Andrew requested the club submit structural variations to the original design to break the line of the building that could be built without stressing the club’s financial position.

“We submitted three proposals and rotated the building 90 degrees, making the lowest part of the structure adjacent Commercial Street, before council selected the design they preferred and final approval was obtained in September 2020.”

Mr Clark said COVID delays and contractor commitments meant the project had progressed slower than anticipated, but the club hoped it would have the facility available in February for the start of night bowls.

“This development for South East Bowls will enable enthusiasts to enjoy the sport without the ravages of inclement weather and offer 1600m2 of covered space for suitable events in Mount Gambier,” he said.