MORE open space could be made available to Mentone residents as part of a proposal by the Mentone Bowling Club to lease part of its land to Kingston Council.
Bowling club chair Addy Wetzler confirmed the club has approached council to talk about making unused land on the corner of Balcombe Rd and Swanston St.
“It’s a third small green that we haven’t used for the best part of ten years,” he said.
“It’s about making better use of some of the land we’re not using at the moment.
“We have a strategic plan as a club to work with council and the community to make sure we are seen as being a community club and asset for the local community.”
Mr Wetzler said discussions were at an early stage and the land is a “pocket” measuring about 738 square metres on the corner of Balcombe and Swanston streets.
The chair said social bowls will still be played at the club on two other lawn bowls greens at the Mentone Bowling Club.
Club members would have to agree to lease the land to council for public use and a park with benches or a children’s playground could be options.
Mr Wetzler hoped the plan may draw more members to the club.
A lack of public open space in Mentone was flagged by objectors to the sell-off of a former council depot in Collins St to an aged care provider last year.
Council ultimately decided to sell the Collins St land to not-for-profit Southern Cross Care (Victoria) to build an aged care home at the site.
Councillors were divided over the sale and several backed a community push to use the land as public open space instead.
Council city assets and environment general manager Daniel Freer confirmed the bowls club had spoken to him about potentially leasing part of its land.
“The Mentone Bowls Club has approached Council to discuss potential uses for a section of the club’s site which is currently unused,” he said.
“At this time discussions are at a very early stage.”
Mr Wetzler said it would be business as usual at the club and it would be guided by community feedback and council advice.
First published in the Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News – 9 November 2016
