Aseaside sporting club is seeking an unprecedented 40-year lease of its current coastal playing arena as it wants to build a restaurant.
The Robe Bowling Club has long been located on prime Crown land overlooking the town beach and Guichen Bay.
The bowlers have repeatedly held discussions with the Robe District Council to extend the clubhouse and the greens and add a restaurant.
A letter from club secretary Peter Roachock forms part of the agenda for this week’s monthly council meeting. There has been considerable speculation in recent years about the future of this valuable portion of Crown land with the possibility of a convention centre mooted.
However, Mr Roachock said the Robe Bowling Club is requesting a 40-year lease to not only secure the long-term future of the club, but also to benefit it in raising the support and finance it requires in the short-term.
“For obvious reasons, we would like to secure such a lease before instigating the drawing up of plans,” Mr Roachock said.
“We would also like to discuss with the Robe District Council their plans for the future of the current toilet block and any mutual benefit that might extend from including that public facility in the potential new build.
“When we do reach the stage of drawing up plans, we would like to incorporate a restaurant into the development.
“The lease of this would be important for our club to offset the loan we would need to access to build a new clubhouse, but would also provide a waterfront eatery which would be of overall benefit to the town.
“The club has a unique location and we are looking to take advantage of this whilst trying not to make any negative impact on the foreshore.
“Robe councillors will have recently seen the number of people who access the club for entertainment purposes over the peak tourism season.
“They will therefore be aware of the potential this development would have for both visitors and townspeople, as the current clubhouse is already frequently booked by members of the community for a variety of purposes.
In response to this letter, Robe Council chief executive James Holyman said a delegation from the Robe Bowling Club had addressed the council in December.
He said he had briefed the council on the club’s request and councillors had toured the clubrooms of the Robe Bowling Club.
Mr Holyman recommended the lease matter be discussed at a workshop later this month.
