Large sections of abandoned Belair golf course left uncut ahead of catastrophic fire conditions
The Environment Department promised to slash the overgrown abandoned Belair golf course by Friday, as catastrophic fire conditions loom — but residents have called the effort “token”.
East, Inner Suburbs & Hills
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Hills residents are concerned overgrown grassland at the abandoned Belair Country Club and grounds remains a significant danger, with catastrophic fire conditions declared for this week.
The Environment Department took steps last week to mitigate the bushfire risk, just an hour after The Advertiser reported concerns about the state of the course.
However, the residents who raised the alarm say large tracts of the golf course remain untouched, and describe the cutting as a “token effort”.
Judith Mair, who has lived in the area for more than 30 years, said grass still remained at waist height on parts of the course, which was part of the Belair Park Country Club that went into administration two years ago with debts of $2.1 million.
“They’ve done a pretty big area but there’s an awful lot of golf course left,” said Mrs Mair, of Belair.
“I acknowledge they have done the worst part along Upper Sturt Rd but they haven’t even mown the bit behind the (Belair) Caravan Park which I would have thought would have been a priority.
“The grass is not even brown yet but it will completely dried out after Wednesday (predicted to be 42 degrees).
“I suspect they’ve done what they’ve planned to do and will do no more.”
Mrs Mair said cuts to firefighting services were a major concern for Hills residents.
An Environment Department spokeswoman said slashing at the ground would finish on Monday and was focused on areas that “present a bushfire risk”.
“They include along the old fairways off Upper Sturt Rd,” the spokeswoman said.
“Slashing will finish up today at a small area in the northwestern corner of the old fairway and around the former Country Club.
“We will continue to maintain the Belair Golf Course and Country Club grounds to minimise bushfire risk.”
Local Roger Hancock said he had spent an hour walking through the golf course on Monday and called the Environment Department’s actions “a token effort”.
“Whether this is adequate from a fire-risk reduction perspective I cannot say,” Mr Hancock said.
“But like thousands of other local Belair and Glenalta residents, we are in the ‘line of fire’ should a bushfire outbreak within the (Belair National) Park jump the golf course.
“Over 50 years we’ve seen park bushfires approach within our view, even with choppers carting water over our house to quell the fire outbreaks.”
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He said the department needed to “get their act together” and better maintain the golf course.
Mr Hancock said slashed fairways were the 2nd, 3rd, 5th and 14th holes, leaving another 14 fairways overgrown.
The Sturt CFS has been contacted for comment.