Beloved bowlo in Bondi hit with staggering rent increase

by GRACE JOHNSON

The volunteer-run Bondi Bowling Club is devastated after being hit with a 420% rent increase. 

Around 11,000 Crown Land leaseholders were notified last week that their rent had been redetermined. 360 of those are now facing rent increases greater than $2,000 a week. 

The beloved Bondi Bowlo, run by volunteers, historically paid about $22,000 annually in rent. That price has now jumped to $95,000, meaning the club will now have to pay an extra $1,500 per week to keep their doors open. 

The not-for-profit sees around 10,000 come through its doors each year, and has no pokies machines to build revenue.  

The club is now concerned that they will have to pass the cost on to customers by increasing membership fees and food and drink prices. Many of the members are elderly and rely on the club for their sense of community.

Premier Chris Minns defended the decision on 2GB radio station, saying the rent increases will fund the upgrade of fire trails critical to firefighting efforts, and that the government had to “find the money somewhere.” 

“If we don’t do that, I’ve got to find the money from somewhere and that’ll be raising taxes on businesses and households and I’m not prepared to do that,” he said.

Crown Lands NSW determines rent every five years to ensure it’s in line with current market rates. The Bondi Bowling Club, celebrating its 90th anniversary this year, had its last rent review in 2009. 

Kelly Sloan, MP for Vaucluse, speaking with Ben Fordham on 2GB, said “this is an unreasonable increase.”

“I mean, five grand, sure. Let’s do a redetermination, maybe the need to pay a little more. But a $70,000 increase.”

“And this is not just Bondi Bowls, we know of other clubs that are copping this as well.”

Matty Graham, President of the Bondi Bowling Club, said the rent increase, which they’ve got only a month to pay, will put a serious damper on plans to better their services for the local community.

“We’ve got a laundry list of renovations,” said Mr Graham.

“We want to improve our disabled access to the club. We might even have to think about closing a few days a week.”

Mr Graham emphasised that bowling clubs are the “heart and soul of the local community,” where you can have a reasonably-priced drink and play a sport that is “healthy, safe, and offers access for all ages, all genders, and all abilities as well.”

His message to the premier?

“Stop punching down on bowlos,” said Mr Graham.

“They’re an easy target for developers, for local councils, for the government,” he continued.

“Give us a break.”