A traffic light moment is how Cooroy Golf Club president Keith Harkins describes a special meeting being called by members on 28 March to determine the club’s future relationship with GemLife and its proposed retirement resort development.
“It’s a traffic light to say keep going or stop here and try something else,“ Mr Harkins said.
In 2019, over-50’s lifestyle resort developer GemLife lodged a development application for a luxury retirement resort, with 246 housing units, on private land adjoining Cooroy Golf Course in Myall Street, Cooroy.
The application called for a reconfiguration of lots and included the transfer for 1.2ha of golf course land to the developer. In exchange, the club was to receive a new clubhouse, new car parking, a golf buggy shed, new golf course entry and club membership fees from each new home owner for 10 years.
In February 2021, council planning staff recommended refusal on a number of grounds including inconsistencies with Noosa Plan zoning, negative environmental impacts, high housing density, effects on the Lake Macdonald Water Supply Catchment, and adverse impacts on Cooroy’s infrastructure and amenity.
The proposal was unanimously rejected by councillors at the general committee meeting the following month. GemLife filed a Notice of Appeal in the Planning and Environment Court in April 2021.
In March 2022, GemLife reduced the number of lots by 18 in response to concerns from Noosa Council about building houses and infrastructure in the flood-prone and environmentally sensitive riparian zone.
On 10 February this year, GemLife lodged a Minor Change Application, which included plans to relocate the entry to the clubhouse and residential estate which will avoid vegetation clearing but impact the golf course’s 15th fairway.
Rod Ritchie, president of Cooroy Area Residents Association, which is a co-respondent with Noosa Council in the appeal, said this further incursion into the golf course had prompted dissatisfaction among many club members, who were already uneasy about the previous changes.
“They are now concerned that this classic rural golf course is in danger of being impacted by this proposed high-density residential estate, which reduces its length and changes its layout. It’s important to them that the golf course retains its integrity, even though a new clubhouse might be attractive to some members,“ he said.
“Members are also concerned about the intrusion of the housing estate on the playability of the course, the liability of players and/or the club when stray balls enter the housing estate, and the extra costs involved in running and maintaining a new clubhouse. Other fears included the reduction from a standard par 72 course to a par 67, which would have an effect on the quality of the course and therefore its popularity with players.“
Golf club members called for the special general meeting on 28 March, putting forward two motions for a vote:
a) Given the significant changes to the GemLife proposal, the management committee is directed to cease and withdraw from all discussions and negotiations around the sales or exchange of assets with GemLife forthwith.
b) That no part of the current 15th hole be sold or exchanged with GemLife.
The Cooroy Golf Club newsletter, received by members last week, announced that the latest plans for the proposal would be available for examination by members from Monday. At several information sessions this week, committee members will join with GemLife representatives to clarify the issues, and answer any questions members may have on how the proposal will affect the golf course. Members are invited to provide feedback on these latest changes.
“If people don’t have the full information rumours can get away,“ Mr Harkins said.
“We’re still in the process of design and negotiation. With any of these things you want feedback. That’s the normal process.
“I’m president. I’ll do what the members want to do.“
The significance of the vote is contained in the club newsletter which states:
“It should be understood that if there is a yes vote on the motion to be resolved at the special general meeting called by members and scheduled for 28 March 2023, then all discussions with GemLife will cease immediately without any further negotiations.”
