CFS backs calls for State Government to clean up the abandoned Belair golf course as fire danger season looms
An hour after The Advertiser reported concerns this abandoned and overgrown golf course was a major bushfire threat, the Environment Department pledged to cut it by the end of Friday.
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Community fears that an overgrown golf course poses a bushfire threat to thousands of homes has sparked the State Government to promise action.
Advertiser.com.au reported residents and the Sturt CFS were calling on the government to clear waist-high grass from the abandoned Belair golf course.
They feared the neglected course, which is owned by the government, could act as a wick and send a bushfire towards adjoining Belair National Park and the heavily populated suburbs of Glenalta, Belair, Hawthorndene and Blackwood.
Within an hour of The Advertiser raising the issue, the Environment Department released a statement saying it would cut the grass by the end of Friday.
Judith Mair, who has lived in the area for more than 30 years, demanded urgent action be taken to clean up the golf course, part of the Belair Park Country Club that went into administration two years ago with debts of $2.1 million.
“When the Country Club was still functioning the golf course was regularly mowed and maintained,” said Mrs Mair, of Belair.
“But since the government took over it’s just been left abandoned.
“They dug up the watering systems and took out everything that wasn’t nailed down but have done nothing else.”
Mrs Mair said she had witnessed regular burn-offs in the neighbouring Belair National Park to reduce fuel loads.
“It made me wonder why they weren’t dealing with the golf course,” she said.
“The department should get in and, at the very least, mow the grass as they do in the national park.
“During our time here there have been two bushfires, in Randell Park and Brownhill Creek valley, and we’re concerned what will happen with another one.
“Bushfire is very much on our minds with daily news of the catastrophes and the CFS are telling us it’s a very bad year.”
Sturt CFS chief Dale Thompson agreed the golf course was in a “terrible” condition and required immediate attention.
“The area is basically revegetating and returning to natural scrubland again,” Mr Thompson said.
“We’ve basically got grasslands growing around the golf course and they need to get someone in to slash it all to reduce the fuel load.”
Mr Thompson said while the task of maintaining the entire site was “virtually impossible”, regular maintenance would make a “big difference”.
“They need to mow the park’s verges so if a fire were to happen it would be unlikely to come out of the course and affect the local community,” he said.
“But it seems they’re (government) sitting on a buyer before they do anything at all.”
Roger Hancock, speaking on behalf of a group of residents who were “appalled” by the “absolute neglect” of the course, said it used to provide a green buffer between the national park and the neighbouring suburbs.
“It provided a natural open and green firebreak from bushfires which is no longer there,” Mr Hancock said.
“The CFS has given stern warnings to residents to clear up their backyard but it makes you wonder if the DEW is listening.”
Environment Minister David Speirs opened expressions of interest for the site in October last year, saying the State Government was looking for “environmentally, socially and economically sustainable” proposals.
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Mr Hancock said the government should reconsider restoring the golf course to its former state and surrounding it with retirement and/or holiday accommodation.
“That scenario has proven very successful at McCracken (Victor Harbor), The Links (Lady Bay, Normanville), around the Flagstaff Hill Golf Course and all across Australia,” he said.
“It’s been nearly two years and all we’ve got to show is an open paddock as a blight on a picturesque area and a potential danger to thousands of residents.”