4 March 2022

Council wants 'visionary' ideas for Batemans Bay Bowling Club site

| Albert McKnight
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Batemans Bay Bowling Club site

Councillors will determine the future of the former Batemans Bay Bowling Club site after the Transport for NSW lease expires on 31 July 2022. Photo: Eurobodalla Council.

Eurobodalla Shire Council is preparing to call for expressions of interest to develop the former Batemans Bay Bowling Club site which sits on a central location in the town, before councillors ultimately decide its future.

“This is a key site and we want to see developers come up with something special. We want visionary stuff,” Eurobodalla Mayor Mathew Hatcher said.

“We’re not going to rush into anything – I can definitely say that.

“I think the whole town of Batemans Bay is going to have a cosmetic lift over the next 10 years and I think that site is really going to be key.”

Council bought the site which is on the Princes Highway next to the new Bay Pavilions complex in 2016 and is currently leased to Transport for NSW until the end of July 2022 as part of the Batemans Bay Bridge development.

Council’s property manager Andrew Greenway said council had previously engaged with the community and identified tourist accommodation, conference facilities, restaurants, cafes and residential accommodation as the preferred development options.

READ ALSO Sale of former Batemans Bay Bowling Club site should be postponed, says councillor

Cr Hatcher said he was keen to let some big ideas flow from both developers as well as the community, and that it was important to do a lot of community consultation.

He has received emails from people wanting to see 5-star tourist accommodation as well as from those hoping for a larger art gallery.

Cr Hatcher described the former bowling club site as a key site because whatever was developed there was going to be one of the first things people see when they drive across the bridge into town.

“It’s going to tell you a lot about the town – it’s going to be the entrance to the town,” he said.

Also, he said Batemans Bay was growing and with an ageing population, as well as a lot of young families moving into the area, it was important to think about the needs of the community in the future.

Mr Greenway said the future of the site will be a matter for councillors to decide and will require a council resolution.

He said council previously sought expressions of interest in June 2021 and while he knew there was interest in the site, no formal expressions were received.

READ ALSO The rising tide to be honoured with sculpture art at new Bay Pavilions

“This time, we’ll engage a commercial real estate agent to secure proposals for purchase and development,” he said.

“This does not bind council in any way to any course of action. Instead, the results will be presented to councillors for their consideration on the property’s future.”

Once appointed, the real estate agent will make more information publicly available.

But Batemans Bay Business and Tourism Chamber president David Maclachlan said the former bowling club site was one of the largest pieces of property left to develop in the Bay and councillors should give an indication of what they wanted there before expressions of interest were sought.

“You’ve got to have a plan for the site, you can’t just throw it up in the air,” he said.

“The councillors should view it and have a say on it.”

There also should be proper consideration of what the Bay needed, he said.

READ ALSO Two years on, $50 million bushfire grants announced for Eurobodalla and Bega

“Both Batemans Bay and the shire’s economic and social challenges should be considered when planning for that site,” Mr Maclachlan said.

When asked what ideas the chamber had, he said the town still didn’t have a multi-use venue, for example for trades and art shows, and had a lack of indoor sporting facilities.

“It’s a significant gateway site that impacts on Batemans Bay and could be used to addressed some of the challenges we have,” he said.

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Mark Buckley8:07 am 12 Mar 22

What a bout a public park with stage, connected to the river front by a walkway through the Mangroves.And a community garden at the rear enhancing the conection with Mckay Park

The drive through B Bay is hideous with ugly buildings leased and or owned by multi national companies (profits going out of town) and a reminder of how not to develop a small seaside town.

I say regenerate it with the natural bushland.

Roslyn Hunter8:19 am 09 Mar 22

Why didn’t the council offer to move the mini golf centre ?
There isn’t anything to do for young people & families in Batemans Bay !
We have a huge amount of people on holidaying down here, yet nothing entertaining to do !

I think Think we need a food court and a big W but I also think we need a bowling alley and an indoor sporting complex or younger generation in the town would be good for such as Lasertag bowling indoor putt putt golf or even a rollerskating rink

Robyn Broughton4:02 pm 12 Mar 22

Good ideas we need attractions for our community such as Jamir Brown had put forward very little to do other than what is present now beautiful area but no indoor places such as James had motioned

Heather Williams10:12 pm 07 Mar 22

The kids, with a big focus towards the towns youth, would definitely benefit from a PCYC

We need something for children and teenages to go to like a PCYC where there is events held and sporting. There is no much for our younger generations to go to build them a centre.

If the site is going to tell visitors a lot about the town, then it should be telling them about unique our environment – our beautiful plants, trees and forests, our amazing wildlife. Batemans Bay is not Paramatta, it’s not a concrete jungle. Please stop taking away all our green space around town. Build us and our visitors a park, a community garden, a botanic garden and learning centre, a place of peace and wellbeing.

Margaret Walton7:44 am 07 Mar 22

Long vehicle parking, a kids playground and park area and public toilet.
All of these will encourage travellers to stop and spend their money.

Angie Ingram3:54 pm 06 Mar 22

I think it would make a wonderful shopping mega centre, with chemist warehouse, Harvey Norman furniture store, restaurants, bowling alley,etc infrastructure the area needs

Just don’t rely on what developers want because they will develop somethings for themselves, and in the current climate, it won’t be affordable and community orientated. Bateman’s Bay will be developed for the rich and not the locals if you are not careful.

ROBYN BROUGHTO4:05 pm 12 Mar 22

Well said Dave Reid

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