Opponents of Arm End golf course vow to fight against development

The chief executive of Tasmanian Conservation Trust has vowed to fight the development of a golf course at Arm End after it received a green light earlier this week. UPDATED >>

Golf course, recreation and accommodation development proposed for the South Arm peninsula by Tasmanian entrepreneur Greg Ramsay, an aerial view of Arm End headland reserve area

Opponents of the Arm End golf course say they’ll fight against the development, after it was revealed the project would go ahead.

The 18-hole golf course, slated for a 166ha parcel of Crown land, was approved by the Clarence Council in 2013 and the developer needed to substantially commence the project by October 1 this year.

The council received legal advice on Monday, advising substantial development had commenced, because the developer had undertaken significant weed control work on the site.

But not everyone is convinced the work undertaken is substantial enough, Tasmanian

Conservation Trust CEO Peter McGlone did not believe the work undertaken was enough to count as substantial commencement.

Tasmanian Conservation Trust CEO Peter McGlone says the trust does not agree with the Clarence City Council’s opinion on Arm End golf course. Chris Kidd

“The Council has based its decision on ‘the significant weed control work undertaken on the site’, but weed control does not constitute part of the proposed golf course,” Mr McGlone said.

“There has been no start made on the golf course at Arm End despite the current permits being in place since April 2016.

“The Tasmanian Conservation Trust does not agree with the Clarence City Council’s opinion that the Arm End golf course has substantially commenced and we have already engaged lawyers to provide us with advice on how we may challenge that decision.”

Mr McGlone said the reserve was valued by the community.

“I’m a very regular visitor, I’ve been going there for 25 years,” he said.

“If you go on a Saturday or Sunday morning, there’s a large amount of people there … it’s growing in popularity, it’s people fishing, picnicking, walking their dog.

“A golf course basically conflicts with all of that.

“Most people in the local community want to see the area left as it is, they want to see improvement to the walking tracks.”

Mr McGlone said the group would fight against the development.

“The proposed golf course is deeply unpopular as it will destroy the reserve as a place for passive recreation, for locals and visitors, and its construction will destroy Aboriginal heritage sites that are documented across the entire reserve,” he said.

Developers Mary Ann’s Island has previously said it’s work so far included a near $600,000 investment to remove a weed infestation of African boxthorns along with a $100,000 investment in the revegetation of local plant species.

Green light for controversial Arm End golf course

A controversial proposal for a golf course at Arm End will proceed after the developers were found to have made substantial commencement on the project.

The development of the 116ha parcel of Crown land at Arm End was first proposed in 2009 and the golf course first approved by Clarence City Council in 2013.

Longstanding council permits for the development required “substantial commencement” of the project to be made by October 1.

Clarence City Council said it had received legal advice that works at the site to date were sufficient to have met that requirement.

“On Monday, 19 December, Council received legal advice confirming the proponent’s submission that substantial commencement has been achieved,” council said in a statement.

“This was achieved through the significant weed control work undertaken on the site which was a condition in the permit.”

Arm End. Picture: Google maps

Clarence Mayor Brendan Blomeley said he was excited to see the development proceeding.

“This, along with the Seven Mile Golf Course will put our city on the golfing tourism map, bringing people from across the world to our shores,” he said.

“Golfing tourism attracts around 23,000 visitors to our state each year, with this number expected to grow significantly in the next five to ten years.

‘This course will further diversify our golf experience offered in the city and will give our community a bigger bite of that cherry.”

Developers Mary Ann’s Island Pty Ltd issues a statement welcoming the decision.

“We are delighted Clarence Council agrees that substantial commencement has occurred at Arm End,” the statement said.

“So far our work includes close to $600,000 invested in removing the noxious African Boxthorn infestation from Arm End, as well as over $100,000 invested in the revegetation of locally threatened and endangered plant species.

“We look forward to continuing to rehabilitate this land so that it can be enjoyed for a wide range of recreational uses including golf, walking and beachgoing for generations to come.

“We’re also excited about the broader positive impact the project will have on the local area, including delivering irrigation water for community and agricultural use.”

The golf course is to be serviced by a pipeline under the Derwent delivering treated sewage for irrigation from Kingston and the former Morrison Liberal government granted $5m in National Water Grid Connections funding for the pipeline last year.