Meeting between residents and a developer gets heated discussing plans for North Lakes Golf Course

Tempers have flared at a heated meeting and Q&A session discussing the controversial development of a golf course north of Brisbane, with the developer behind plans accused of being “confrontational” and “unprofessional”.

TEMPERS flared last week at a heated meeting discussing the development of North Lakes Golf course.

North Lakes residents vented their anger and frustration at representatives of The Village Retirement Group (TVRG), including managing director Justin Harrison.

The company has plans to buy North Lakes Golf Course and develop 11ha of the 68ha site into a retirement village and aged care facility.

Mr Harrison was also clearly frustrated by the hostile environment at the meeting, held at Mango Hill Community Centre on November 21, and some of his responses to residents’ questions were deemed “confrontational” and “unprofessional” by Save North Lakes Golf Course president Andrew Cathcart.

“We went there to be sold a vision from the developer but they don’t even seem to have a plan,” he said.

Representatives of TVRG were contacted for comment.

Village Retirement Group community consultation meeting at Mango Hill over development of North Lakes Golf Course.

In responding to a resident’s question during the meeting, Mr Harrison stated emphatically that the golf course would close.

“We are going to settle that land. A golf course doesn’t work,” he said.

“So we can go on about the retirement village all you like, the land’s going to be settled.

“What we’re actually here about right now is about what the community would like to do about the rest of the land.

“Otherwise, to be honest, we are going to be sitting here for the next couple of years and nothing will happen to that land except for a couple uses that I put on it.”

More than 100 people turned out at a peaceful protest on Sunday, November 25 against the sale of North Lakes Golf Course to a developer.

A video of the meeting was posted on Facebook.

TVRG is currently doing detailed design work on its plans for the golf course and is expected to submit a development application with Moreton Bay Regional Council next month.

The Save North Lakes Golf Course group meanwhile held a peaceful protest at the golf course on Sunday which was attended by about 100 people.

Residents were protesting the closed community consultation being held this week by TVRG.

The group also has an e-petition to the State Government which closes on February 1, 2019, objecting to any change of use at the golf course. The petition has about 3300 signatures.