A former bowls club that has become a point of contention among the community – and now subject of a court appeal – is set to be demolished.
The Pacific Paradise Bowls Club has been abandoned since about 2019 and has been touted for a development including 85 residential units, 39 short-term accommodation units and a 1086sqm food and drink outlet.
Those plans were rejected by Sunshine Coast Council in July, with applicants Padstow Holdings Pty Ltd and Sherringham Holdings Pty Ltd filing a Planning and Environment Court appeal in August.
Sherringham Holdings director John Goulter, who has owned the site beside the North Shore Tavern since the mid-1990s, said the bowls club building on the 12,775sqm site would be demolished.
“Owing to some recent and vehement criticisms stemming from social media commentary regarding the derelict state of the former Pacific Paradise Bowls Club, including adverse amenity impacts, anti-social behaviour, graffiti and vandalism, and fears that vermin are infesting the site, arrangements have been made for demolition to rectify the situation,” he said.
“Canvassing was conducted and those most impacted on Lerner Street are supportive of this.
“Following the bankruptcy of the club’s committee in 2017 and the two-year free-of-charge lease to 2019, the community has not come forward or made any approach to reinvigorate the membership or constitute a new club or sporting association with the required governance and treasury required.
“It has been cost-prohibitive to try to maintain the greens and built form over the previous six years, given the repeated and extensive vandalism experienced, and that it is not in use by an active membership or committee.
“As the building and greens are now in such disrepair, and the community is asking that something be done about the ‘eyesore’ in the middle of town, we have respectfully made the decision to begin demolition.
“It would not be financially feasible to renovate and refurbish the building and greens as there is no one to use them. The cost to do so would be exorbitant and would provide no benefit to anyone.”
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Mr Goulter said the site would be secured to avoid any further trespass, unsavoury behaviour or hazards to the community.
He said an Aldi supermarket had previously been mooted for the site but the application did not proceed owing to the “prospect of litigation” by neighbouring businesses.
“We approached council in late 2021 and were asked to design a mixed-use development that included Sport and Recreation activities and uses,” he said.
“After much time and money spent, and a recommendation for approval of a predominantly low-rise mixed-used with the above inclusions that was refused, we are now further acting on community concerns that are within our capacity to address.”
