Helensvale golf: can council save the Gold Coast’s only public owned course

The future of a troubled Gold Coast golf course looks to finally have been secured after a major breakthrough in negotiations. But there is one more hurdle still to be cleared.

THE future of the Helensvale golf course is about to be resolved — as council drives a winner for residents wanting to keep a much loved community asset.

Recent budget review papers had listed Gold Coast’s only public-owned golf course at the top of “emerging issues” to be resolved.

The golf club was costing the ratepayers more than $300,000 a year as it was maintained without an operator, with council’s preference to embark on leasing campaign to find a suitable replacement.

The clubhouse at Helensvale Community golf course.

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Councillors met in a closed session at the lifestyle and community committee meeting on Thursday where they later voted unanimously for officers to negotiate with an applicant who offered to reinstate the golf course “without the injection of funds from the city”.

The Bulletin can reveal the new lease arrangements will see the new operator given a rent free period for the first 10 years and charged $640 a week for years 11 to 25.

Residents on the Facebook page of area councillor William Owen-Jones today described the move as a great “social and sporting comeback” for Helensvale.

Cr Owen-Jones said council since the appointment of a receiver to Jigsaw Community Services Limited in 2018 had conducted two separate tender processes for a lease to manage and operate the course.

“Whilst there were nine expressions of interest received from the second leasing campaign, most required either a loss of land for development to off-set the golf course costs, or a significant capital outlay from the city to rebuild the greens, tees and clubhouse,” he said.

Councillor William Owen Jones - pleased with the outcome for the community. Photo: David Clark.

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“Since assuming control of the site, the city has been maintaining the property in a holding pattern, which has seen the 45 hectare site being mowed with the same number of rotations as a standard council park.

“Whilst there has been a number of residents who have indicated a desire to convert the golf course to parkland, natural area and sporting facilities, it would be fair to say that the preference of the majority of residents in Helensvale for the site to remain as a golf course, without further development.”

Cr Owen-Jones said the site had several constraints with approximately 70% of the property subject to flooding. It is important koala habitat area and linked to the Coombabah Wetlands.

After council concluded its second campaign, several more proposals were received, he said.

“In late March 2019 an experienced golf course operator approached the city with a proposal to bring the course and associated facilities up to a suitable standard on the basis of a long-term tenure without city investment,” he said.

Players on the golf course when it had an operator. Photo: Regi Varghese.

“I am very pleased to advise that the committee has recommended to council that negotiations be entered into to secure a long term 25 years lease over the entire Helensvale Golf Course site on the basis of the ongoing management and operation of the land as a golf course.

“It is anticipated that it may take the new operator several months to return the course to a playable standard, with the proposed new golf operations potentially commencing prior to the end of 2019.”

All councillors are expected to support the committee’s recommendation at full council on June 13. Details on the applicant will be made public after talks with council are finalised.