Murwillumbah Golf Club plans to build multi-storey car park as more golfers hit the green
A Tweed Shire golf club says it needs to build a new car park to meet rising demand since the sport boomed in the Covid pandemic. Here’s what’s planned.
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Murwillumbah Golf Club has proposed a million-dollar multi-storey carpark on Byangum Rd to meet the rising demand for golfers hitting the green.
The proposal would see a fibro house and 17 trees bulldozed for the construction of a 90 space car park and a golf buggy storage area consisting of 28 buggy spaces.
The club has 71 parking spaces at the moment and the proposed car park is located to the east of the club house.
Club manager Gary Thatcher said a spike in the number of golfers started during the Covid-19 pandemic.
“At one stage there, there was no other sports you could play, and golf was the only one,” he said.
“Apart from going for a walk, it was the only exercise you could do. You couldn‘t go to the gym, couldn’t play tennis, couldn’t play any other sport. But especially in New South Wales golf was still happening.
Mr Thatcher said more young people have taken up golf.
“It’s really picked up over the last couple of years,” he said.
“Our main problem now is we don’t have enough parking spaces for the people who want to come and play.
The 43 hectare site has been zoned for use as a golf course since 1959 and it is unlikely the proposed carpark would have an impact on animals in the area, town planner Lydia Charman said.
Ms Charman states the removal of the 17 trees would not impact koala numbers and the club would plant 45 plants native and small trees as part of the development.
“The proposed works are considered to contribute positively to the existing built form and scale of the golf club,” she said.
The site of the club adjoins The Tweed Valley Adventist College.
Proposed works are within 5m of electrical infrastructure, so, the proposal needs to be referred to NSW Essential Energy.
Have your say on the proposal on the Tweed Shire Council website.
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