ON HOLD: Construction of a new 24 lane bowling alley on the old Norvil Foundry site has been delayed indefinitely.
CONSTRUCTION on Ballarat's new licensed 24 lane ten-pin bowling alley has been delayed indefinitely.
Tough economic conditions have forced developer Oz Ten Pin to suspend plans to build the new alley on the corner of Creswick Road and Norman Street in Ballarat North.
The new facility will replace the existing Doveton Street North bowling alley, also operated by Oz Ten Pin.
Despite an initial opening-date slated for February 2012, drainage concerns at the site pushed an opening back to late 2012.
This morning general manager Rob Zikman told The Courier the City of Ballarat had granted a two year extension on the site's building permit.
"We're just waiting on economic conditions to turn around," he said.
"The investment is worth about $8 million, so we've got to get it right."
The new facility will feature a bar which will operate from 11am to 11pm Monday to on Saturdays and 11am to 9pm on Sundays.
Bowling lanes would be boosted to 24 to help attract major tournaments to Ballarat, with eight lanes able to be set aside for corporate events and parties.
A laser tag centre and several warehouses are also expected to be located on the site.
"We'd love to do it tomorrow if we could, but we need to make sure everything is turning around economically," Mr Zikman said.
"It's just been put on the back-burner a little bit."
Mr Zikman said the plan was still very much alive and said the Doveton Street north facility would remain operational until the new one could open.
"We've got the extension for two years - let's hope (economic conditions) pick-up well before then," he said.
The new ten-pin bowling alley will be located on the former Norvil Foundry site.
