The Shire of Gingin has lobbed a hand grenade into the local community by introducing a proposal to close both the Lancelin Golf Club and Bowls Club.

The Shire wants Lancelin residents and visitors to use similar facilities in Ledge Point and have listed the matter for a vote at this Tuesday’s shire meeting. It has serious implications for the town if the councillors vote to close these two clubs.

Both clubs’ running costs are covered by members so the shire will see little, if any, savings from these closures. But the town will suffer badly at a time that many local businesses are copping a hammering from Covid.

It is looking like the councillors and the Shire may have underestimated the resistance from locals. Today, 8 community associations and at least 200 locals have banded together to oppose the proposal.

An online petition has been established and if you feel strongly about the closure of two of the town’s sporting clubs (they’ve been around for nearly 40 years) please click here – https://www.change.org/p/minister-for-sport-and-recreation-wa-stop-gingin-shire-closing-lancelin-sporting-facilities and add your name to the growing list.

It’s worth remembering that Lancelin Golf Club is unique; it is the only links course in WA and the Shire now wants members and guests to abandon the 18 hole course for a 9 hole course in another town.

The Bowls Club features grass greens, something few other country bowls clubs offer and there is a big demand for corporate bowls which kicks off again in late October.

It’s fair to say that the locals are miffed AND gobsmacked at the decision by the Shire (which is 76km from Lancelin) to introduce this proposal at such short notice. So please click here – https://www.change.org/p/minister-for-sport-and-recreation-wa-stop-gingin-shire-closing-lancelin-sporting-facilities and add your name to the growing list if you’re against this.