CITY Council has rejected a staff report recommending against the construction of a canopy over the Mount Gambier Bowls Club, instead voting to discuss a “more suitable proposal” with the sporting group’s representatives.
Elected members voted to support the club’s plan to install a shelter over ‘B Green’, but agreed to not support the proposal in its current form.
In moving his motion, Councillor Christian Greco noted the issue as a “hot topic of discussion” between councillors, staff and the club itself.
He included a clause to invite representatives of the bowls club to a closed workshop.
Cr Greco’s motion was seconded by Cr Paul Jenner, who in doing so sought to change workshop to council’s open committee meetings.
“We deal with it at committee, because that is what committees are for,” Cr Jenner said.
“A workshop is a closed, behind the scenes event and I do not think that’s what the bowls club want.”
The change was agreed to by Cr Greco and the motion was reworded to include an invitation to council’s operational standing committee scheduled for next month.
Cr Sonya Mezinic opposed the change to a committee meeting, saying it was necessary to “thrash out” ideas in an informal setting.
“It is a really significant structure in quite a significant place,” she said.
“These are about issues of design.
“I think where we have debate is around issues of principle, not about the design.”
Cr Steve Perryman said there were mechanisms in place, including the suspension of standing orders, allowing for open debate in committee meetings.
Moving back to discussing the bowl’s club proposal of a shelter, Cr Perryman said an all-year bowls facility would greatly benefit the community.
“Both clubs in the city have moved from turf greens to synthetic greens,” he said.
“This is the next step for Mount Gambier and I support it in principle.
“Mount Gambier is almost the last stop before Antarctica and we get a lot of southerly weather during the winter.
“There’s a lot of people that play that sport, jump in their caravans and disappear north for a couple of months.
“We could potentially attract people doing the same thing to our area if we do have a green used 12 months of the year.”
Mount Gambier Bowls Club president Ian Von Stanke said the result was “the best we could have asked for”.
“We are very happy council will support us in principle,” he said.
Mr Von Stanke said the committee had started organising PowerPoint presentation ahead of next month’s meeting.
