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Lane Cove Country Club: First look at north shore golf club redevelopment

Tennis courts and a section of a north shore golf course are set to be demolished as part of a $52 million redevelopment proposal. SEE THE PLANS:

Sydney golf clubs locked in war over council land grabs

Multimillion dollar plans have been revealed for a new sport and recreation facility at Lane Cove Country Club after a petition opposing loss of golfing greens at the site reached State Parliament.

A new indoor sports centre, bistro with outdoor dining and four outdoor sports courts form part of Lane Cove Council’s $52 million proposal to revamp the 60-year-old club on River Rd.

Plans show the project would also include a new function centre, six indoor multipurpose spaces, and 233 underground carparks.

A concept plan of the project.
A concept plan of the project.

Five tennis courts at the site would have to be demolished for the development along with the current club house and a section of the adjacent golfing green.

The plans come as a citizens’ panel has been set up to scope the future of the club’s remaining golfing greens after initial plans for a driving range and putting green on the site was met with strong opposition from users.

A petition signed by 500 club members and residents was also lodged to NSW Parliament raising various concerns with the proposal including in the loss of approximately one-third of the current golfing course.

The new building would be three storeys tall.
The new building would be three storeys tall.

The council, which owns the River Rd club, said the changes to the future use of the greens would address the growing shortage of sporting facilities and space for community groups across the region.

Plans stated the redevelopment of the greens also would address the “high operational cost and poor quality” of current facilities that cost the council approximately $205,000 per year.

Country Club president Dermot Duncan said the club was working with the council to address issues including impacts on the club’s 500-plus members.

The project includes new indoor sports facilities.
The project includes new indoor sports facilities.

He said golf membership has increased during COVID-19 pandemic and the club was committed to ongoing use of the site.

“One of the options on the table at the moment is to have active passive green space – we don’t know exactly what that would look like but it would no longer be a golf course,” he said.

“Our members are supportive of keeping the site as it is and the playing numbers are going through the roof – there was a big uplift in 2020 because it was the only sport allowed during the peak of Covid and that’s increasing in 2021

“We have members that are aged 10 and 91 play together – there’s a real diversity of age groups and demand (for the site) is only growing.”

The current tennis courts would be demolished under the plan.
The current tennis courts would be demolished under the plan.

The council said the citizens’ panel will provide an “overarching vision for the site and a set of criteria that will be used to inform future decision making about uses.”

“In the event alternative uses are recommended, council would prepare feasible, specific use options for the citizens panel to test against its own criteria,” the council added.

Plans for the club redevelopment meanwhile show the project will involve adding a new roundabout on the busy intersection of River and Northwood Rds that would provide car access to the new club carpark.

If approved, the sports facilities would open as late as 10pm and as late as midnight for the multipurpose hall.

Mr Duncan said demand for the club’s golfing greens was expected to increase in coming years as other clubs in the region undergo redevelopment including proposed works at Chatswood Golf Club and impacts on Cammeray Golf Club from the Western Harbour Tunnel.

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Original URL: https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/north-shore/lane-cove-country-club-first-look-at-north-shore-golf-club-redevelopment/news-story/a071587580079c84c654526ad71a0971