Capital raising drive to help Kangaroo Island golf project The Cliffs boost region’s fire-ravaged tourism industry
A new golf course, clubhouse and accommodation at Kangaroo Island could help save the region’s tourism industry, proponents say, as they prepare to launch a capital-raising drive.
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A $25 million golf course with a restaurant and accommodation could help Kangaroo Island draw 20,000 extra visitors a year, its proponents say.
But The Cliffs Kangaroo Island must first find financial backers to turn the vision for Pelican Lagoon into reality.
Chief executive Sam Atkins said at the project’s heart was an 18-hole championship course designed by Darius Oliver, who was behind the Cape Wickham Links course on King Island, Tasmania – currently ranked the number two course in Australia.
It also includes 20 rooms, practice facilities and viewing platform.
“We’re expecting it will be ranked very highly in Australia and very highly in the world rankings as a destination golf course,” Mr Atkins said.
“We’re confident that will bring not only upwards of 20,000 visitors to the island each year, but it will also create a destination for people … to visit and look at the views of the ocean and have an accessible experience that currently isn’t available on Kangaroo Island.”
The project would boost the island’s recovery following the inferno which ravaged the region this summer, Mr Atkins said, providing visitors year-round.
The company will next week launch a capital-raising drive to find investors and lenders for the development, slated for former farmland. It was also seeking to lease adjacent waterfront land from the State Government, and working with SA Water to establish connections for its site.
The development, declared a major project in February 2014, received approval in 2016 but since then has changed ownership.
Work will begin as early as March, with the golf and clubhouse opening in February or March 2021, and the 20 rooms some time after that.
About 45 jobs are expected to be created during construction, along with 50 roles at the golf course and clubhouse in the long-term.
Mr Atkins, who also owns wine business Fox Gordon and is a committee member at Kooyonga Golf Club, said The Cliffs was working towards a carbon-neutral goal.
That would incorporate solar power and storage, water recycling and the use of electric vehicles. The company would also revegetate weed-infested land.
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Kangaroo Island Mayor Michael Pengilly said The Cliffs would pave the way for improved water connections in the island’s eastern end, including in American River and on farming properties.
He said it would provide a welcome tourism boost for the island, which was suffering from mass cancellations amid the blazes.
“It would enhance flights betwen the eastern states and Kangaroo Island, it would enhance the number of flights from Adelaide to Kingscote and would enhance passenger traffic on the ferries,” Mr Pengilly said.
Environment Minister David Speirs was contacted for comment.