Port club beats plan for hotel

Jessica Benton
PORTARLINGTON Bowls Club has secured a new lease, dousing fears of relocation to make way for a boutique foreshore hotel.
Club president Charlie Sproal said the club would stay on its existing site for at least nine years.
The Independent reported last year that draft plans to redevelop Portarlington’s harbour and neighbouring foreshore included a proposal for a 100-room, four-storey hotel on the bowls club site. The plan suggested the club could either move further west or to a hotel rooftop terrace.
Mr Sproal said the club relocation plan was only ever “a pipe dream”.
Portarlington Community Association’s Monica Hayes was thrilled the club would retain its place on the foreshore.
“Certainly, anything that secures that land against a four-storey hotel development has great merit,” she said.
“I’d much rather see some sort of open community use of that area.”
Parks Victoria project community consultation facilitator Elaine Carbines said she could not comment on the club’s future.
However, she said State Government would unveil the final harbour redevelopment plan next week.
“This is the culmination of several years work and consultation with residents and key stakeholders,” she said.