Orange Ex-Services' Club and Orange City Bowling Club members will vote on a plan to amalgamate the two clubs next month.
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Under a memorandum of understanding signed by both clubs three new grass bowling greens and facilities would be built at Wentworth Golf Club - which amalgamated with the OESC last year.
About $10-15 million is planned to be spent on a multi-sports precinct at Wentworth which will also create jobs in its construction and operation.
The OCBC's Warrendine Street premises will continue to operate for at least five years, however the long term plan is to close it and centre bowls activities at Wentworth.
Information forums for members are planned for October 20 with the amalgamation votes to take place on October 27.
Under the amalgamation the OCBC would continue to be the name of the Warrendine Street premises.
The bowling club's eight permanent and nine casual staff will all be offered employment by the OESC.
We see the opportunity to consolidate all bowls in town and build a purpose-built facility for future generations.
- Daniel Perkiss, CEO of OESC
It is also intended about $1 million would be invested in its facilities, infrastructure, plant and equipment to freshen it up.
"OCBC and OESC acknowledge and agree that it is the intention of OESC to operate the OCBC premises only for the minimum period (five years) subject to completing the Wentworth site development," the memorandum states.
"Following completion of the minimum period and completion of the Wentworth site development the amalgamated club will cease trading from the OCBC premises."
This is a change from plans announced in February.
After the amalgamation it is planned bowlers from both clubs, and Newstead Bowling Club, which previously amalgamated with the OESC, would become one club.
It would be named Orange City Bowling Club and wear its colours. However, if a new uniform was later designed it must "pay homage" to the OCBC, Country Club and Newstead clubs.
The current OESC directors will be the board for the amalgamated club.
OESC CEO Daniel Perkiss said 70 bowling clubs had closed in NSW in the seven years to February this year and the number of players had declined by 24.6 per cent. He said numbers were also declining in Orange.
"Through the memorandum of understanding and the potential amalgamation we see the opportunity to consolidate all bowls in town and build a purpose-built facility for future generations," he said.
Mr Perkiss said they wanted to "protect and preserve" the history of the various bowls clubs in Orange with the new entity.
OCBC secretary manager Neil Southcombe said he was unsure how the vote would go.
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