Community group urges VRG to walk away from golf course plans though developer stands firm

A GROUP trying to stop the development of a golf course north of Brisbane says they’ve prepared a “competitive market offer” to buy the site.

Bowmaker Realty staff ltr Samantha Stephens, Samantha Eason, Ashlea Robinson and Jane Longmuir support the campaign to stop the sale of North Lakes golf club to developers. (AAP/Sarah Marshall)

A GROUP trying to stop the sale of North Lakes Golf Club is urging developers Village Retirement Group (VRG) to walk away from plans to turn the course into a retirement village.

However, VRG has confirmed it would exercise its option to buy the club at the end of next year.

Golf club owner Adam Simpson said he would consider his options at the end of next year should VRG elect not to proceed.

Save North Lakes Golf Course has prepared a “competitive market offer” to buy the site after Mr Simpson announced the club had been operating at a loss in recent years and would close at the end of 2019.

Guests at a rally to save the golf club last month. Picture: Matt Williamson

Village Retirement Group is proposing to buy the land and build 200 low-rise independent living units and a three-storey 100-bed aged-care facility on two sites on the course.

“We are definitely going to show that the community can buy this thing,” Save North Lakes Golf Course president Andrew Cathcart said.

“It will be a share option for business and community.

“If an opportunity for negotiation becomes available, we have asked to be notified to give the community an opportunity to purchase, keeping 100 per cent of the open space and the golf course as a golf course, instead of letting it become altered potentially over time and 100 per cent of the land lost to high density development.”

The group has also received support from PGA Australia and Golf Australia, both against the development of the course.

“Golf Australia is proud to lend its support to the Save the North Lakes Golf Course campaign,” Golf Australia chief executive officer Stephen Pitt wrote in a letter to the group.

“We offer support to the owners of the facility with research, resources, programs and campaigns to assist in engaging more golfers to make the course sustainable and the foundation for a strongly connected community.”

Mr Simpson said he had tried a range of programs and campaigns over several years to engage more golfers, including consulting with industry experts.

He reiterated that the course was under option to be sold and would close at the end of next year.

SNLGC has also engaged Land & Environment experts Hopgood & Ganim Lawyers which is providing advice on the development process.

More than 400 signs opposing the sale, available from Bowmaker Realty, have also been distributed to residents and erected in front of houses and businesses throughout North Lakes and Mango Hill.