Monday 5 February 2018

Moe Bowling Club and Moe Golf Club are the latest recipients to upgrade their facilities for members with funding support from the Latrobe Valley Authority.

The Moe Bowling Club is rolling out the green carpet in the form of a new synthetic surface with $285,400 from the Latrobe Valley Authority’s Community Facility Fund to replace the club’s ‘number one’ grass green with synthetic turf.

The Moe Golf Club will get a $52,875 grant to install new solar panels and a battery system that will significantly reduce their operating costs.

Moe Bowling Club has struggled with soggy surfaces and increasing maintenance costs for more than a decade.

Once complete, the new greens will allow for year-round, all weather use, enabling more high standard competition while increasing club visitation, participation, income and sustainability.

The project aligns with the club’s synthetic replacement of green ‘number two’, which received a grant from Sport and Recreation Victoria’s Community Sports Infrastructure Fund last year.

Victorian company TigerTurf will carry out the works on both projects between February and May this year. The two projects are expected to reduce the club’s total turf maintenance costs by about $80,000 per year.

Installation of a new solar panel and battery system at Moe Golf Club will significantly reduce the club’s operating costs, with expected savings of $193,301 over a 15 year period.

For more information about the Community Facility Fund go to www.lva.vic.gov.au or call 1800 136 762.

Quotes attributable to Member for Eastern Victoria Harriet Shing:

“Sporting clubs are the backbone of so many of our communities across Gippsland and bowls and golf both provide wonderful opportunities for players of all ages from Moe and surrounding areas to come together, enjoy some healthy competition, develop new skills and stay connected within the community.”

“The new synthetic surface at the bowls club will take local competition to a whole new level and enable our players to be their best year-round, and solar panels and batteries for the golf club will make a real difference to their costs over time – these grants will also continue to instil the pride of place that we are supporting across the region.”

Quotes attributable to Latrobe Valley Authority’s Chief Executive Officer Karen Cain:

“The project will ensure the Moe community can access and enjoy the facilities year round.”

“The Moe Bowling Club is utilised by the community 48 hours per week and has produced more state level bowlers than any other club in the region,” she said.

Quotes attributable to Moe Bowling Club President Les Stolarik:

“Synthetic bowling greens have long been on the club’s radar.”

“We are excited at the prospect of a new synthetic green to expand our programs and offerings to new and existing members.”

“Bowls is both a social and competitive sport for people of all ages; these synthetic greens will make it more attractive to people of all walks of life to come down and have a roll.”

“Being able to bowl year round will be a huge boost for our club of 150 members, a number we hope to see grow following these works.”