Lane Cove Council plans to use residential streets as parking zones for $75m golf club development

North shore residents have spoken out over plans to use their streets as parking zones for golfers during a sweeping overhaul of the Lane Cove Golf Club.

A concept image of the redeveloped club, which is expected to take up to 18 months to complete.

North shore residents have spoken out over plans to use their streets as parking zones for golfers during a major redevelopment of the Lane Cove Golf Club.

Lane Cove Council has faced criticism over the contentious changes that would allow club members to use residential streets surrounding the club as temporary parks during the $75 million redevelopment.

The council-funded project will involve rebuilding the existing clubhouse and carpark for facilities including indoor and outdoor multi-sport courts, a gym and an expanded on-site carpark.

The course will remain operational during construction with a modified nine-hole layout – meaning golfers will need to find off-site parking when playing.

Angry residents packed Lane Cove’s council chambers at a meeting last week to voice their opposition to a proposal that would encourage golfers to park on streets including Third Ave.

A concept image of the redeveloped golf club

Third Ave – to the east of the club – was proposed to have 20 new carparking spaces created through a mix of parallel and new 90 degree angle carparking spaces.

Leo Parthenos, a resident of the street, said he staunchly opposed the move.

“The amount of traffic it will introduce to the area is going to overwhelm the streets – it’s not wanted by residents,” he said.

The redeveloped club will include new sporting facilities.

“It will be so drastic that children won’t be able to run around in the streets or ride their bikes at certain times, especially on Saturday. We don’t want our kids injured by any traffic issues.”

Rick D’Amico, who has lived on Third Ave for 22 years, said residents were being asked to “shoulder the burden” for disruption caused by the redevelopment.

“It will directly impact the quiet and peace of the neighbourhood and the very reason we purchased in the area,” he said.

The redevelopment is expected to take 18 months to complete.

“It does not pass the ‘not in my street test’ – how would you feel if it was proposed in your street?

“Council is shoving an uniformed and unplanned parking problem in our street – it’s a no thank you from us.”

The council has faced further criticism over a separate plan to turn a section of open green space on Gamma Rd into 50 car parks.

Quoting musician Joni Mitchell, one resident said the parking proposal equated to “paving paradise to put up a parking lot”.

During the meeting, councillors voted on a revised traffic model relying on existing on-street parking adjacent to the golf club during the redevelopment.

Third Ave in Lane Cove

It means the Gamma Rd option will be off the table and no carparking spaces on Third Ave would be changed from parallel to angled parking to fit more cars on surrounding streets.

Speaking after the council decision, Mr D’Amico said residents were cautiously optimistic about how the traffic arrangements would work.

“I know it’s a temporary measure but we’d still have people parking in our streets and we just don’t want the streets to be overwhelmed with cars,” he said.

The development is the most expensive construction project planned by the council and is expected to take up to 18 months.

The council was contacted for comment about the parking arrangements but did not provide a response at the time of publication.