The Alphington Bowls Club has been a cornerstone of our community in Alphington, VIC, Australia for many years. Its clubhouse is not just a building; it's part of our local history and identity. However, the City of Yarra Council is considering constructing a new clubhouse instead of refurbishing the existing one. We believe that this decision would not only be costly but also erase an integral part of our community's heritage.

The club has already provided draft plans to the council suggesting a staged refurbishment that retains as much as possible the character of the existing brick structure while adding external open space additions. This approach would be more cost-effective and environmentally friendly than constructing an entirely new building. The plans, provided to council, may be viewed at the clubhouse.

This staged refurbishment proposal would also permit continued operation of the bowls club during the project; this is considered essential for retention of members and also the maintenance of a resource available for use by the local community. Multi-staged refurbishment also permits capital expenditure to be spread over an extended period. 

Were the existing clubhouse to be demolished, a prerequisite for any redevelopment, then the club would be prevented from operating in any meaningful way during the estimated one- or two-year construction period. This "down time" would have disastrous membership consequences without provision of costly temporary facilities.  

According to Australian Bureau Statistics (2018), refurbishing buildings can save up to 50% on energy consumption compared to newly constructed buildings due to less embodied energy in materials and construction processes.

We urge City of Yarra Council to consider this alternative plan seriously. Let us preserve our heritage while moving forward sustainably by committing to refurbish rather than replace our beloved clubhouse. Please sign this petition if you agree with us.