Tender issue continued over bowls club property
DUNKELD - A public meeting was held on 23 October to address residents' concerns regarding the Dunkeld Bowls Club property.
The property, which is managed by the Johannesburg Property Company (JPC) went up for tender which Boston City Campus won.
On behalf of the property company, Farnis Sardianos shed light on the tender process.
“The city had certain core requirements that need to be fulfilled… and Boston was the successful bidder as they met the minimum requirements… the main requirement was that the facility would still be used for sports and recreation, and that there be no further extensions made to the property,” he said.
He further stated that the previous lessees, the Blind Bowlers Association, had not, in fact, fulfilled the lease requirements in terms of its usage of the facility.
Although Boston remains a successful bidder, “… a lease agreement has not been signed [yet],” said Sardianos.
Ari Katz, CEO of Boston City Campus, then presented to residents the proposed plans for the property, stating that they were willing to adhere to the requirements, maintaining the sports and recreation clause by outsourcing to a third party who would convert the bowls lawns into a soccer field.
“The pub area will then be transformed into a learning lab… where high school pupils will able to take lessons on a technology-based platform,” he said.
Katz stated further that the lab would be able to hold about 70 students on rotation.
In the tense question and answer session that ensued, irate residents quoted the Request for Proposal (RFP) tender document, arguing that the process was irregular and that Boston City Campus had not fulfilled the core requirements. The crux of the disagreement was the interpretation of what the core and primary function of the property would be.
Concerned residents noted the primary use of the property will no longer be a sports and recreation facility as quoted in the requirements listed in the tender proposal.
An additional concern was raised when it was made known that a family lived on the property. “We’ve been here since 1989, I have three children”, said Grace Mabunda whose husband once managed the property.
Both the JPC and Boston expressed concern at this and stated that they were unaware the property itself was also being used as a place of residence.
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