The Waikerie Bowling Club will construct a giant dome over its green to attract more people and bigger competitions to the Riverland town, while improving playing conditions all year round.
Under the Government's Building Better Regions Fund, the club has received $600,000 — half the cost of building the UV-protective shade structure on site.
Club president Roger Davies said it was a big win for the region and the club's members who have supported the project with thousands of dollars in debenture loans.
"We needed to top up [to assist the grant] and in 24 hours our members came up with the support of $100,000 just like that," he said.
"I think it's a fantastic reflection on our club and members because we've done a lot of work to get this over the line.
"The local council have also contributed a grant of $250,000, we've organised a Local Government finance loan and we've got funds of our own that we've put in."
Years of hard work pay off
Secretary Barry Harden said the dome was the perfect reward for the club, which had been growing in membership over the past decade.
"We had a group of younger guys come in and change the attitude of the club and financially we're really good, membership is booming, everything's going in all the right directions," he said.
"[The dome is] going to improve everything — membership, playing in the hot sun, everything.
"We're going to be the centre of bowls in the region."
Mr Harden said the dome itself would be an attraction for visitors to the town, and would allow for bigger state-level bowling competitions to be held in Waikerie.
"The more people you get, the more corporate sponsors, so it's really going to pull a lot of money into our district and liven the town up," he said.
"Waikerie's only two hours from Adelaide and a lot of people play bowls in [the city] and they like to get out to the country.
"Just imagine coming in and there's a beautiful big dome sitting there — it's going to be very impressive."
Build a dome and the people will come
Vice president and bar manager Drew Schapel said five years of research had gone into the project already, including speaking with clubs interstate.
"A lot of clubs in Victoria and Queensland that have a dome have spoken highly of the increase in trade and members and visitors," he said.
"It just seems to have that attraction that brings people to the club and we're hoping to have the same effect here.
"It will hopefully be like a moth to the flame with people wanting to play."
Other local projects that have received Building Better Regions funding include $1.2 million for a new Wellbeing and Community Centre in Loxton and $225,000 to upgrade Len White Reserve in Swan Reach.
The Southern Mallee council has received $2,250,000 for stages 2 and 3 of its commercial revitalisation project for Pinnaroo, Lameroo and surrounding districts.
