Grant to roll out new green at Servies

Member for Tamworth Kevin Anderson met with members from the Gunnedah Services and Bowling Club (GBSC) to announce a grant of $198,500 from round four of the NSW government’s Stronger Country Communities Fund.

The grant will allow for a new synthetic green to be installed next to the car park.

The area is currently a turf green.

Speaking to the Gunnedah Times last Thursday, Mr Anderson explained how important the upgrades are for clubs across the state.

“I think it’s about the viability of clubs in NSW and the Gunnedah Services and Bowling Club is a very big part of the community, it’s a meeting place, it’s where people come and gather socially,” Mr Anderson said.

“You have to provide the facilities which allow people to want to come to the venue.”

The benefits of switching from a turf surface to a synthetic green is based around the cost of maintenance. Grass requires a greenskeeper to maintain the surface which can be quite expensive, whereas synthetic grass doesn’t grow and can be easily preserved.

“To upgrade the bowling greens which are synthetic, it allows the club to continue to hold competitions and reduce their costs,” Mr Anderson said.

“The great thing about these new synthetic bowls surfaces is they require no watering, no sand and very little in the way of maintenance.”

GBSC bowls coordinator Scott Thorning said “it basically cuts a wage out” from the club’s expenses, meaning he can now take over the duties of maintenance.

This is something he is experienced with, having already worked on the club’s main green which is synthetic.

It gives the club and bowlers consistency. Currently during competitions, if bowlers need to use both greens and they must switch from the grass to synthetic, and it often takes time for bowlers to adapt to the change.

Thorning spoke about the need for the renovation. 

“Ideally bowlers want a grass green but economically, it’s the only way to go,” Thorning said.

“It takes around 18 months to settle after it has been done but the front green is really good now.”

Work will start no later than June next year, with the club and bowlers excited about the new project.

It will allow the club to hold more local and regional competitions along with attracting more residents to the venue.