Bowls Dunedin has voted to relinquish its centre greens and buildings at Logan Park and adopt a new constitution.
Last night, at its 101st annual meeting, centre delegates opted for change and supported a remit from the Kaikorai club to take immediate steps to initiate talks with the Dunedin City Council with the intention of permanently relinquishing the lease of the greens and buildings formerly used by the Otago Women's Bowling Association.
The Kaikorai remit, which spelt the end of the centre greens that had been formed by the Otago Women's Bowling Association in 1931, was passed by 36 votes to 14, with five abstentions.
The cost of maintenance of the centre greens had been a bone of contention for clubs since the amalgamation of men's and women's bowls in Dunedin in 2001.
The vote means Bowls Dunedin would not only lose the two-green complex but also the pavilion that was valued at $118,000 when opened by then Dunedin mayor Sir Clifford Skeggs in 1986.
It is understood the centre would not get any financial compensation for its building when it reverts to city control.
At the time of amalgamation, the men had a debt of $8000 and the women's financial books showed a profit of $30,000.
After paying off the men's debts the amalgamated body had a profit of $22,000.
Former Bowls Dunedin president Adrienne Hale did not agree with the decision which she felt was a step backwards for women's bowls in the centre.
"Bowls New Zealand forced us to amalgamate and tonight's decision means that we have lost a great asset in our buildings," Hale told the meeting.
She wanted the $22,000 invested by the women at the time of amalgamation to be used for the betterment of women's bowls in Dunedin.
Dorothy Burnard said not all women bowlers in the centre would agree with Hale'sexpressed sentiments.
Since amalgamation, most of the women's interclub and centre events had been held on the centre greens.
But there had been a growing feeling by women bowlers that these events should be held on club greens, she said.
A remit at the annual meeting to play women's interclub competitions on club greens supported this viewpoint.
It was passed by the big margin of 48 votes to 5.
There were two abstentions.
The community and recreation services manager for the Dunedin City Council, Mick Reece, congratulated Bowls Dunedin for showing the courage and foresight in making such a big decision.
"I'm very keen to discuss with Bowls Dunedin its strategic direction for the future so that the city council can support the future development of bowls in Dunedin," he said.
The decision was important for the long-term Logan Park development plan, he said.
It would also involve discussions with the Logan Park Bowling Club which is located next door to the centre greens.
Mr Reece said the council preferred to deal with centre executives but in its dealing with bowls it was also forced to talk directly with individual clubs that had greens and clubrooms on city council leased land.
The Bowls Dunedin annual meeting also backed the new constitution by 54 votes to four.
The new controlling body for Bowls Dunedin would consist of a president, vice-president and a five-person board that can be elected and appointed.
Dunedin is one of the last centres in the country to adopt the new administration format that has been recommended to all centres by Bowls New Zealand.
The new constitution will come into operation in October.
An interim executive would prepare for the change.
Robbie Thomson was elected the new president of Bowls Dunedin and Leon Oliver the vice-president.
