A group called Save Waverley Bowlo is campaigning against the demolition of the Waverley Bowling Club on Birrell Street as plans have been lodged to build a 90-unit retirement village and childcare facility in its place.
In December 2018, the Eastern Suburbs Leagues Club or East Leagues, which manages a number of modern sports, leisure and hospitality facilities around Australia, submitted plans to improve the Waverley Bowling Club with new greens and bowling facilities. However, part of its redevelopment would also include senior housing and childcare site, as well as a swimming pool, a gym, basement parking, and landscaping.
The development application is currently under assessment by the Waverley Council. If approved, the cost of the project could come up to $83 million.
Members of Save Waverley Bowlo, however, are convinced that the redevelopment of the bowling club will be excessive. As a result, the group has enjoined residents of Waverley to write letters to the Council to make their objections known.
Save Waverley Bowlo believes that the proposed new club would bring more traffic to the area and lessen the accessible and recreational spaces for locals to use. They also oppose the scale and the height of the buildings compared to the surrounding buildings in the community.
But the Easts Leagues said the redevelopment is necessary to ensure the continued operation of the Waverley Bowling Club. The facility has apparently been trading on deficits with less than 60 active members.
In 2014, East Leagues also submitted plans to redevelop the site into a $100 million sports and residential facility. However, it withdrew its plans after residents petitioned against the proposal, citing that they don’t want Waverley to become a mini-Las Vegas.
The Waverley Bowling Club is one of the oldest bowling facilities in Sydney, having been in operation for over 120 years.
