Proposal for Disposal of Jeparit Bowling Club

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At the Council meeting held on Wednesday 28 October 2026, Council resolved to give public notice of its intention to sell the Jeparit Bowling Club located at 62 Lower Roy Street, Jeparit (Lot 2 LP61292), under section 114(2)(a) of the Local Government Act 2020.

The Jeparit Bowls Club facility is no longer being used for its intended purpose as a bowling club or sporting venue. Lawn bowls ceased at the site prior to 2020 and, despite attempts to re-establish bowling activities, there has been limited success in returning the facility to active sporting use.

The condition of the bowling greens is also a significant consideration. The greens are in poor condition due to age, wear and tear and the extended period without regular bowling use. Returning them to a standard suitable for ongoing competition or regular community bowling would require substantial rehabilitation and ongoing specialist maintenance. This represents a significant investment for Council, particularly given the limited demonstrated demand for bowling at the site and limited opportunities to secure external grant funding for its reinstatement.

While the facility is currently used by a community group as a meeting place, this use does not require Council to retain a former bowling facility and associated greens. Other Council-owned community facilities are available within Jeparit for meetings and community activities, including the Jeparit Hall and facilities at the Jeparit Recreation Reserve. The availability of these facilities provides an opportunity to accommodate community activity without Council continuing to maintain multiple buildings for similar purposes.

Retaining the site would also mean Council remains responsible for the ongoing maintenance, insurance, management and eventual renewal of the ageing building, in addition to the substantial investment required if the bowling greens were to be restored. Continuing to invest limited ratepayer funds in a facility that is no longer delivering its intended sporting purpose is difficult to justify when Council has an extensive portfolio of community buildings, recreation facilities, roads and other infrastructure requiring ongoing renewal and maintenance.

Sale of the property would enable Council to reduce its ongoing asset management costs and future financial liabilities while providing an opportunity for the site to be put to an alternative and potentially more sustainable use. Importantly, the proposed disposal is not a reflection on the value of the community group currently using the building. Rather, it recognises that the group's need is primarily for meeting space, which can potentially be accommodated through other community facilities within Jeparit without requiring Council to retain an entire former sporting facility and deteriorated bowling greens.

On balance, disposal represents a financially responsible approach to managing a surplus and underutilised Council asset. It allows Council to better target limited resources towards facilities with demonstrated community demand and towards the renewal and maintenance of infrastructure that provides broader and longer-term benefit to the Jeparit and wider Hindmarsh community.

Feedback from You

Before Council progresses further with advertising this building for sale, we'd like to hear from you! Council invites you to complete the survey below to provide your feedback on this decision.

Please provide your feedback by 11:59pm on Friday 27 November 2026.

For further information or if you have any queries, please contact Mick Henderson, Manager Assets and Facilities, on (03) 5391 4444 or email mhenderson@hindmarsh.vic.gov.au.

At the Council meeting held on Wednesday 28 October 2026, Council resolved to give public notice of its intention to sell the Jeparit Bowling Club located at 62 Lower Roy Street, Jeparit (Lot 2 LP61292), under section 114(2)(a) of the Local Government Act 2020.

The Jeparit Bowls Club facility is no longer being used for its intended purpose as a bowling club or sporting venue. Lawn bowls ceased at the site prior to 2020 and, despite attempts to re-establish bowling activities, there has been limited success in returning the facility to active sporting use.

The condition of the bowling greens is also a significant consideration. The greens are in poor condition due to age, wear and tear and the extended period without regular bowling use. Returning them to a standard suitable for ongoing competition or regular community bowling would require substantial rehabilitation and ongoing specialist maintenance. This represents a significant investment for Council, particularly given the limited demonstrated demand for bowling at the site and limited opportunities to secure external grant funding for its reinstatement.

While the facility is currently used by a community group as a meeting place, this use does not require Council to retain a former bowling facility and associated greens. Other Council-owned community facilities are available within Jeparit for meetings and community activities, including the Jeparit Hall and facilities at the Jeparit Recreation Reserve. The availability of these facilities provides an opportunity to accommodate community activity without Council continuing to maintain multiple buildings for similar purposes.

Retaining the site would also mean Council remains responsible for the ongoing maintenance, insurance, management and eventual renewal of the ageing building, in addition to the substantial investment required if the bowling greens were to be restored. Continuing to invest limited ratepayer funds in a facility that is no longer delivering its intended sporting purpose is difficult to justify when Council has an extensive portfolio of community buildings, recreation facilities, roads and other infrastructure requiring ongoing renewal and maintenance.

Sale of the property would enable Council to reduce its ongoing asset management costs and future financial liabilities while providing an opportunity for the site to be put to an alternative and potentially more sustainable use. Importantly, the proposed disposal is not a reflection on the value of the community group currently using the building. Rather, it recognises that the group's need is primarily for meeting space, which can potentially be accommodated through other community facilities within Jeparit without requiring Council to retain an entire former sporting facility and deteriorated bowling greens.

On balance, disposal represents a financially responsible approach to managing a surplus and underutilised Council asset. It allows Council to better target limited resources towards facilities with demonstrated community demand and towards the renewal and maintenance of infrastructure that provides broader and longer-term benefit to the Jeparit and wider Hindmarsh community.

Feedback from You

Before Council progresses further with advertising this building for sale, we'd like to hear from you! Council invites you to complete the survey below to provide your feedback on this decision.

Please provide your feedback by 11:59pm on Friday 27 November 2026.

For further information or if you have any queries, please contact Mick Henderson, Manager Assets and Facilities, on (03) 5391 4444 or email mhenderson@hindmarsh.vic.gov.au.

Page last updated: 02 Nov 2026, 09:09 AM