The club will not, however, walk away empty-handed, as negotiations with the Rochester Business Network have resulted in $330,000 being directed into an upgrade of the greens and clubhouse.
And works on the revised plans started on Monday.
The original redevelopment involved a roof and new synthetic green being developed on the site of the club’s B green (on its eastern boundary, which runs alongside Ramsay St).
Those concerns — and a grander ambition by members to develop the A green — forced the club back to the drawing board and, after costings were completed, a proposal to re-develop the Victoria St green frontage was deemed inappropriate.
A significant cost difference in the A green plan, which included a roofing attachment to the clubhouse, forced the dollar value of the project beyond $1 million, which put the project out of reach.
After the club considered its options, the plan for the synthetic green and roof development was withdrawn, after consultation with the Rochester Business Network, and alternative funding will need to be sourced by the club for the roof and synthetic green.
That process is already under way, led by Rochester Business Network’s executive and Rochester Bowling Club chair Graham Willis.
Part of the $800,000 allocated for the original redevelopment will be redirected to other Rochester projects — including the $330,000 bowling club upgrade.
Mr Willis said concerns about flooding of the lower level eastern green were at the heart of the decision to seek an alternative location and, eventually, cancel the project.
It was 12 months ago that the Rochester Business Network announced the bowling club project, but a hold-up in planning and the concerns following the flood study meant the project never went past the planning stage.
Two of the club’s greens flooded when the banks of the Campaspe River broke in 2011.
The A green was not affected by the flooding, which is why the club was hopeful of being able to find the extra funding to redevelop the larger green space.
Bowling clubs throughout Australia are choosing to move on to synthetic (or carpet) surfaces, because funding is now available to repair and refurbish greens.
Smaller clubs are also choosing to move towards carpet because the cost of maintenance is significantly lower.
Mr Willis took responsibility for the project, as club chair, after the process was well under way.
He said the outcome for the club, a $330,000 upgrade to provide a world class bowling experience, was “the best it could hope for’’.
Work on the new project will involve a synthetic surface being laid around the outside of the greens and the ditches.
“All markers, which now need to be flexible, will be replaced, we will have new scoreboards and a whole range of other accessories,” Mr Wilis said.
"Two ditches on the C green will be replaced, with carpet on the surrounds of the green. The entire B green will be refurbished.“
The green’s drainage will be re-aligned, blue metal laid as a base, then sand — and once the growing season arrives it will be seeded.
“It will be a three- or four-month process, but we will end up with three really good greens,” Mr Wilis said.
The funds will also allow for the clubhouse refurbishment, including the kitchen, air conditioning and bar facilities, which has been designed after consultation with members.
Mr Willis said it would be “like a brand new’” facility.
The club has also commissioned the architects to plan for the establishment of a roof over the main green, which will be attached to a submission document and used for a grant application.
“We will employ someone to do the submission, the end goal is to allow us to be shovel ready for the next project, once we have the funds,” Mr Willis said.
Mr Willis said he had spent a lot of time conveying to the members what was happening with the development and he felt, as a whole, they were happy with the result.
"The exciting thing is that all the work being completed at the club is being done by a local firm, Lawford Engineering,“ he said.
“They do bowling greens all over Australia and are one of the very few suppliers of concrete ditches in Australia.”
