[author]Steve Spencer[/author]
Tweed Heads Bowls Club has a $37 million plan to turn its rear car park into a 91-unit retirement village as part of a four-stage redevelopment aimed at securing the club’s financial future.
Club management also want to build a multimillion-dollar office block on land it owns across Florence Street, currently being used as a car park.
Tweed Shire Council planning staff will assess the plan, but the Joint Regional Planning Panel will make the final decision.
The move follows the announcement of a similar revamp of Club Banora, involving construction of a retirement home and retail precinct costing $107 million.
A budget has yet to be set for the bowls club redevelopment, which may take as long as a decade to complete. There are no plans to remove any of the bowling greens.
Refurbishment of the club’s foyer and Sails restaurant is the first stage of club’s redevelopment plan. Acting general manager Penny Tovey says both areas are ‘beginning to look a bit shabby’.
‘There are no firm dates for when the work will start. Hopefully it will take place later this year but we have no clearly defined time frame for any of the stages,’ said Ms Tovey.
‘We hope this will create a financial buffer for the club in uncertain times.’
Before construction can begin on the retirement village at the rear of the club, a multi-level car park must be built at the front of the club. That may not happen for several years.
Across Florence Street, a car park owned by the club is earmarked for a high-rise building, possibly with shops on the ground floor.
‘There is a lot of uncertainly at our club, and other Tweed clubs, about voluntary pre-commitment (poker machine) legislation and what it will mean. The issue has kept us in limbo for the last six months,’ said Ms Tovey.
‘We are trying to safeguard our future by creating a financial buffer.
‘We fear some other clubs around town may have to close their doors.’
The redevelopment application coincides with the Tweed Council’s adoption of a new development control plan for Tweed Heads, which allows for highrise buildings in much of the CBD.
