Government’s compensation payout to Cammeray Golf Club for Western Harbour Tunnel revealed

A golf club has received a massive government compensation payout to accommodate Sydney’s newest motorway project as residents ramp up their opposition to the project. See why they’re frustrated.

The State Government has paid a north shore golf club more than $800,000 to turn the site into a construction zone for Sydney’s newest motorway project.

Financial reports released by Cammeray Golf Club have revealed the club received $821,300 in compensation from Transport for NSW for a temporary lease on its golfing greens for the multi-billion dollar Western Harbour Tunnel and Warringah Freeway Upgrade.

Major construction activity for the project has already involved the removal of hundreds of trees on the golf course to make way for temporary construction facilities that will support tunnelling and surface works on the new motorway.

The construction project will also involve the permanent acquisition of 1.5ha of the golf course which will be turned into a “motorway facilities” building once the motorway is open to traffic.

Cammeray Golf Club has operated at the site since 1906 and closed in March this year to accommodate construction works.

A photo of trees at the site, prior to construction work beginning.

A photo of construction work at the golf club site.

Once the temporary works are completed, the land outside the permanent acquisition zone will be reconfigured into a nine-hole golf course, due to open to the club’s 500-plus members in 2023.

The golf course land is owned by the Crown and falls under the care and management of North Sydney Council, which subleases the site to the Cammeray Golf Club.

A budget estimates hearing last week revealed Transport for NSW also offered North Sydney Council $35,000 in compensation as the Crown lands manager of the site for the temporary lease.

North Sydney Council has disputed the offer – which is less than five per cent of compensation awarded to the golf club – and has challenged the acquisition in the Land and Environment Court. 

The golf club temporarily closed in March to accommodate construction works.

The release of figures comes amid ongoing concerns from residents over the environmental impacts of the Western Harbour Tunnel including the removal of established native trees.

Plans for the project show 480 trees will be cut down along the tunnel pathway along with 160 trees at the golf course site.

Kristina Dodds, a P&C member at the nearby Cammeraygal High School, is among residents calling for the project to be modified to address environmental concerns.

A photo showing which parts of the golf course will be permanently acquired.

“We’ve been working to get changes to the project for four years to address the loss of trees, the ventilation stacks, the construction vehicles and none of that’s changed,” she said.

“The only change we’ve had is we’ve had more trucks on local streets.

“The biggest concern we have is that 1.5ha of the site will be permanently lost and there hasn’t been any plan released about how and when the trees that have been taken out will be replanted.

A photo of the site.

“It seems extraordinary that a golf club that has a lease on a site is awarded compensation when at the same time the community feels we’ve been ripped off.”

A spokesman for Transport for NSW did not respond to questions about the acquisition but in a statement said the motorway project “will streamline traffic movements, making it simpler and safer experience for motorists and commuters”.

“Transport for NSW has engaged regularly with North Sydney Council and the Cammeray Golf Club to minimise impacts and achieve the best possible outcomes for the community,” he said.

“(The department) remains committed to replacing trees and plantings to deliver a future increase in tree canopy in consultation with North Sydney Council as per the Conditions of Approval, which includes the 2:1 tree replacement requirement.”

An artist’s impression of the reconfigured golf course.

Cammeray Golf Club’s financial reports state there was uncertainty over the time frame of when the reconfigured golf course would open due to delays in its early stages of the Western Harbour Tunnel.

The club, in its report, stated it is anticipating “negotiating additional funding” from Transport for NSW to cover the “business disruption” from the deferred commencement of golf course reconfiguration.

The Cammeray Golf Club was contacted for further comment but did not respond at the time of publication.

The compensation awarded to the club is in line with a determination by the NSW Valuer General.