Angry local Mosman claims behavior of Warringah Bowls Club patrons like ‘in the Northern Territory’

An irate local in one of Australia’s wealthiest suburbs has taken a bowling club stoush to new heights, suggesting that customer behavior was similar to that ‘you’d find in the Northern Territory’.

A heated argument has broken out between residents of the posh suburb of Mosman and the ‘noisy’ bowling club they say is disrupting their lives.

Locals in Mosman, on Sydney’s lower north coast, say the 120-year-old Warringah Bowling Club has abandoned its genteel sport’s roots for more raucous events, and now faces noise from children’s bouncy castles, trivia nights , live bands and taunts.

But the conflict reached new heights when an irate local forwarded a message to Radio of 2 GB presenter Chris O’Keefe.

In an anonymous email, the disgruntled neighbor claimed the behavior witnessed by visitors to the bowling club was “something you’d find in the Northern Territory, not Mosman.”

The person claimed that locals saw a young boy climbing over a neighbor’s fence, and that late at night, children were “running around in the dark on the green lawn, yelling and screaming.”

They said while residents were in favor of “partying and celebrating life,” ongoing disturbances had become “unbearable.”

The anonymous writer also accused the venue of contacting media outlets “out of compassion.”

“However, we can prove and dispute many of their statements and arguments,” the email read.

The battle between the club and its neighbors on Bradleys Head Road erupted into the public eye when the license came up for renewal last week.

The battle between the club and its neighbors has been going on for more than two years

The spat began more than two years ago when locals claimed the club had been reimagined as a function center, sparking a flurry of complaints to NSW Liquor and Gaming.

Locals claim the bowlo is now just a “noisy beer garden” with “anti-social behavior including shouting, cheering, drinking contests and foul language.”

A report to NSW Liquor and Gaming revealed that locals had been complaining about the noise from live bands and trivia nights are now ‘broadcasting…and some residents can understand the trivia questions’.

Local residents sent photos of a few drunk customers urinating in the parking lot of the club’s day care center, saying that guests often hung out in the parking lot “talking loudly, yelling and swearing.”

The club insisted there was no evidence the two men in the photo were peeing customers.

Neighbors have now demanded that the club tear down the pavilion, or put restrictions on its use, and all outdoor events must end by sunset, with most events held indoors, and a strict 10pm curfew, with CCTV and sound level monitoring.

ocals have claimed the club is now just a ‘noisy beer garden’ with ‘anti-social behaviour, including shouting, cheering, drinking contests and foul language’

Police say they have been working with residents and the club to find a solution, with acoustic blinds and soundproofing installed since then, as well as a new fence.

But the complaints kept pouring in, even though police found a problem with only two of 26 calls from neighbours, the report said.

Alderman Simon Menzies said residents complained about ‘anything and everything’.

“If the bowlo goes down because of the neighbors, the developers will come in and put high-rises in it, which will upset the neighbors even more,” he added.

The club says it has now banned lucrative 18th and 21st birthday parties, and all bands now play indoors with all windows closed.

It says it has also limited pavilion hours of use to 6 p.m. in winter, 8 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, and 7 p.m. on Sundays in summer.

Children are now also prohibited from playing in the bowling alley and will be confined to a smaller area where they can be better supervised.

Complaints from disgruntled neighbors include noise from children’s bouncy castles

It also plans to employ security guards to enforce the club’s rules of conduct, with two security guards for functions of more than 100 guests.

But it added: ‘The club is one of the few local venues where customers can enjoy being outdoors.

It is ‘unreasonably draconian’ to require that the number of outdoor events, such as barefoot bowls, be limited to four per month in the summer.

“Many members are older and frail adults who prefer to sit outside where there is less risk of Covid transmission…a month is unreasonable and unfair.”

Council checks of noise levels in December 2022 and January 2023 found that while the “noise was audible, it was not considered offensive or unreasonable”.

NSW Liquor and Gaming has now issued a formal warning to the club over the ‘sometimes unnecessary disruption caused by the use of the outdoor pavilion’.

It added: ‘The club has an ongoing obligation to proactively deal with any disruptions caused by its operations.’