’There has been no decision made’: Hope remains for golf at Rosny Park
Golf Australia hopes to work with the Clarence Council to reopen the Rosny Park golf course, while the council decides the fate of the site’s future. LATEST >>
Tasmania
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Golf Australia hopes to work with the Clarence Council to reopen the Rosny Park golf course, while the council decides the long term future of the site.
The golfing body said it was disappointed by the outcome of a recent expression of interest process after no “complying” tenders were submitted to run the site after it was closed in April.
The council said it was open to the course being operated in the short term but it would need to be without significant financial contribution from ratepayers.
“While this latest announcement is a further disappointment, it should not be the end of the process,” Golf Australia CEO James Sutherland said.
“It would be a tragedy for a public course in the heart of the City, where for more than 100 years, generations of Tasmanians have had their first experiences with the game.
Mr Sutherland said the sport was growing in popularity.
“The pandemic has seen a real resurgence in demand for golf, in all its forms and our strategy for the game is clear – we want to support golf courses, facilities and their managers to capitalise on this increasing demand.
Mr Sutherland said Golf Australian could work with the council to iron out the issues.
“Golf Australia and Golf Tasmania can assist with any short-term reopening issues and will provide promotional and marketing support, as well as the conduct of programs for children and junior players to boost activity on the course,” Mr Sutherland said.
Clarence mayor Doug Chipman said the failure of the tender process did not mean the end for golf at the site
“As disappointing as this is for many, I want to make it clear that there has been no decision made on the future of this site in the short or long term – and it could still involve golf,” Mr Chipman said.
“This is simply council updating the community on the outcome of this specific tender.
“Council must now decide a way forward for the site and I look forward to working on this with my fellow alderman in the weeks to come.”
“Work harder”: Clarence council urged not to give up on Rosny Park golf course
The Clarence council is being urged not to give up on the Rosny Park golf course after an expression of interest process returned no “complying” tenders.
The course was forced to close at the end of April after the Clarence City Council did not renew the lease for the YMCA to continue operating it.
But it was agreed the council would pursue a path for golf to continue to be played at the site while a decision is made on the land’s long term future, after it was earmarked for the council’s City Heart project.
But the search for new operators to manage the golf course without significant financial contribution by council has been unsuccessful.
Councillor Luke Edmunds, who moved a motion for golf to continue on the site in the interim in April, said “it’s too early to be giving up”.
“We’ve got to go back and work harder,” Mr Edmunds said.
“We’ve got to talk to an operator and talk to Golf Australia and get an outcome.
“Just because of this one issue doesn’t mean we should pack up the golf bag and go home.”
Mr Edmunds said the council would likely fork out thousands to maintain the site regardless of whether the sport continued on the land.
“To maintain the golf course with no golf is going to cost hundreds of thousand for the years to come with no outcome,” Mr Edmunds said.
“Wouldn’t it be better to see that money go to helping someone operate the course?”
Mr Edmunds said there was a lot of support for golf to continue on the site.
“When this all kicked off in April a parade of people came forward about why they liked the course,” he said.
“It’s one of two public golf courses in southern Tasmania, everywhere else you’ve got to be a member.
“People who couldn’t afford memberships could still play golf.”
Local teacher Owen Tubb is one supporter who wants to see golf continue.
“I’ve been going there since I was 15, since I first went there in high school,” Mr Tubb said.
“I haven’t played a round of golf since the course was closed, I used to go once or twice a week.
“It’s devastating to lose this unique course we have that’s accessible to everyone.”
Mr Tubb said it was a good option for young people in the area.
“It’s always been really accessible to high schools and younger people because it’s cheap,” he said.
“It’s not quite as fancy or inaccessible like the private clubs around.
“I think the council needs to genuinely look at the proposal and the community needs a say in some of these processes going forward.”
Hope for the future of Rosny Golf Course hits rough patch
A CLOUD of uncertainty has emerged over the future of the Rosny Park golf course after an expression of interest process for its temporary operation returned no “complying” tenders.
The century-old Rosny course was forced to close at the end of April after its lease, operated by the YMCA, was not renewed by the Clarence City Council.
The council’s long-term plan is for the site to be used by the community as part of its City Heart project. A current proposal for the council-owned land includes a driving range, mini golf course and a bar, cafe and function space.
A motion was passed in April for golf to continue on the land while council settled on a long-term plan.
The decision to continue as a nine-hole golf course came after a groundswell of public support, including the gathering of more than 100 people in support of the present use.
But a process to search for new operators of the course without significant financial contribution by council has been unsuccessful.
It was an outcome Clarence Mayor Doug Chipman said was disappointing.
“What the tender has borne out is that operating a nine-hole golf course on the site is not financially viable without significant operational investment from council,” Cr Chipman said. “We know there will be disappointed golfers out there around this outcome and we are disappointed too.
“However it is now council’s job to decide a way forward for the site.
Cr Chipman said selling the site was not on the cards.
“The Rosny Golf Course site is protected by a caveat on the title which requires continued ‘community use’, and it has never been within council’s contemplation to sell this land,” he said.
“Clarence City Council will be consulting fully with the community on future use of the site. As disappointing as this is for many, I want to make it clear that there has been no decision made on the future of this site in the long term – and it could still involve golf.”
Cr Chipman said the council now needed to decide on the process for the future of the site.
“While that happens, the General Manager has been advised to continue with a maintenance program for the area which enables members of the community to use the space safely,” Cr Chipman said.
judy.augustine@news.com.au
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