Submission letter of OBJECTION for the Use of Open Space Recreational Land for a Shopping Comple-Peregian Beach Sports & Recreation Club Inc. · MCU13/0092

The Application states that:
“… the Peregian Bowls Club has been abandoned as an active
sporting destination for about three years and no community or
Council progress has been made in acquiring it for recreational or
community use during that period…”

This statement is misleading and deceptive for the following
reasons:
   • It may not have been used from April 2010 but the existence
      of the PB Sports & Recreation Club demonstrates there has
      always been a continued community interest in the site
      despite a legal inability to access it.

  •   The old Bowls Club members were the ones to agree to
      winding up the club at a special general meeting in May 2010
      and therefore ceasing playing and trading on the site. But
      they did so unwillingly upon evidence that a reinstatement of
      a very large monthly lease, which it was understood was
      around $17,000, could threaten their financial future again
      when it appeared they were gradually reducing debt.

  •   If in fact the site has been “abandoned” it has been
      abandoned by the present landholder, for the purpose of
      advancing this application. Its purported abandonment has
      never been in the interests of the Peregian Beach community
      who have wished to continue to use the site for open space
      recreation purposes.

  •   The operators of the very successful beach volleyball
      competition were evicted from the site. Fixtures, junior state
      competitions and SEQ competitions were attracted and PB
      accommodation was filled for entire weekends.

  • The Landholder-Pine Rivers Memorial Bowls Club has never
  offered the land for sale on the open market.

  • PRMBC has refused to return calls from the SCRC and other
  persons interested in purchasing the site but wanting to pay a
  price related to a recreational zoning.

  • Even now, purchasers are willing to buy the site and maintain
  it for recreational purposes when this application is refused.