Kingston Beach Golf Club criticises council for lack of consultation on cycling plan
A Tassie golf club says it had no idea a proposed cycle path could go through part of the land it occupies until a draft strategy on the move was already released. FULL STORY >>>
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MEMBERS of a southern Tasmania golf club are up in arms and its president has taken a swing at the local council over a draft proposal for a cycling trail to slice through part of the course.
Kingston Beach Golf Club president David Patmore wrote to members last week about the plan, saying the first he had heard of it was in the local media.
Mr Patmore slammed Kingborough Council for a lack of consultation over its draft cycling strategy for 2021-2030, which is currently out for public comment.
The council document confirms a proposal for a new shared cycleway and walkway from Kingston to Kingston Beach.
Mr Patmore said a significant section of the proposed cycleway was located on the golf course side of Browns River, with proposed bridges at the northern and southern end of the section.
“The public release of the draft strategy is extremely disappointing and unprofessional of the council, given the total lack of consultation,’’ he wrote in the communication to members.
“It is appalling that a stakeholder that would be significantly impacted by such a proposal finds out about the proposal via the media.”
Mr Patmore said the club had written to the council to seek an explanation, and clarification about whether the council intended to acquire or otherwise access land owned by the club.
Kingborough Mayor Paula Wreidt said the draft network map was designed to provide a high-level plan for cycling and active transport options in Kingborough.
“The draft outlines a conceptual, strategic and aspirational network. The intention is to engage with the community, investigate and pursue opportunities for Kingborough,’’ she said.
“The shared path proposed in the plan, from Kingston to Kingston Beach, is an ‘investigate’ action which means feasibility studies, specific stakeholder engagement and concept design would still need to occur.
“Council staff have had initial, high-level conversations with members of the Kingston Beach Golf Club over a possible route to the beach for cycling, and continue to welcome feedback from the golf club and community as part of the consultation on this draft strategy.
“The draft cycling strategy is not proposing that a pathway is determined or in any way going ahead, it outlines aspirational network linkages only, which would be further discussed with all stakeholders involved once public consultation has finished.
“We have provided further direct advice the Kingston Beach Golf Club to confirm this is the case.”
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