A COLAC bowling club hopes a clubhouse transformation will boost its membership.

Colac Central Bowling Club has started replacing its number-one bowling green with a synthetic surface, as part of plans to make the club more attractive to host functions.

Colac Otway Shire councillors had a four-minute meeting on Wednesday where they unanimously voted to approve the club’s plans to install four 12-metre-high light towers on the green.

Club board member Eddie Page said builders could erect the light towers in a fortnight.

He said club member Lynton Evans was central to the push for the renewal program.

“We’re waiting still on the builder in regards to having a builder’s permit,” Mr Page said.

“All the infrastructure is now in place to take those lights; the poles have to go up and the power’s in place ready for it,” he said.

Mr Page said the club’s new bowling surface was on its way from England, and it could be in place by June.

“It used to be a grass green – it all had to be taken off and a new base was laid,” he said.

Mr Page said the new green would save the club $7000 to $10,000 a year on chemicals and maintenance, and the renovations would cost $200,000, including the light towers.

“Our maintenance on our new green will be vacuuming, that’s all it’ll be,” he said.

The Wilson Street club hopes to promote itself as a functions venue, and attract younger bowlers by having twilight games.

“We hope to put up for a young crowd and would like as many people to come and have a look at it,” Mr Page said.

“It’s a wonderful sport, not an old person’s sport at all.

“There’s more to bowls than some of these people realise.”