Public meeting called to save Rosny golf course amid backlash against council’s park plans
Five generations of the Miller family have played at the Rosny golf course, and they have joined dozens of other local residents to express “disappointment” at the council’s handling of the course’s impending closure.
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ALMOST 100 Clarence residents have rallied against the impending closure of the much-loved Rosny Park Public Golf Course.
The Clarence City Council wants to use the land the course occupies as public open space under its City Heart project.
A lease on the course, owned by council and operated by the YMCA, expires on April 30, with final rounds expected to be played on April 24 after a history going back more than 100 years.
But Alderman Luke Edmunds called Friday night’s public rally at Kangaroo Bay in a last-ditch effort for the course to win a reprieve.
He has also submitted a motion to Monday night’s council meeting that would let the course stay open until the council had a plan for the land’s use.
Rally attendee Andrew Miller said five generations of his family had played golf at the course.
“The council says they want more public space – why did they get rid of Rosny Hill then?” he said.
Peter Miller said the space should at least be partially left for its original intended use as a golf course.
“There’s so many people who are really disappointed about how the council are handling this,” he said.
“You see a real mix of people using the course because not everyone can afford to join many other more expensive ones.”
Clarence Mayor Doug Chipman wrote in a Talking Point earlier this week that the community was “keenly aware of the potential of this land”.
“While golfers will lose access to a golf course, our community and our many visitors will gain a large, centrally located natural space that will provide for a wide range of activities and events. This land is unique in our city,” he wrote.
Golfers’ paradise lost to public park plans
By Doug Chipman
CLARENCE City Council’s City Heart Project presents a unique opportunity for the city and its residents. Central to that opportunity is the Rosny Golf Course land.
I am excited by the prospect of a parkland within the Rosny CBD, including the opportunities it will provide to the Clarence community.
Our community is keenly aware of the potential of this land.
While golfers will lose access to a golf course, our community and our many visitors will gain a large, centrally located natural space that will provide for a wide range of activities and events. This land is unique in our city.
There are many possibilities as we take a first step towards reimagining what this space could be.
The first stage of the process to convert the golf course to parkland involves an interim plan, which will be considered by council at its meeting on Monday.
The second stage is to engage in a concept planning process to determine the opportunities for the long-term use of the parklands.
If the interim plan is endorsed by council, within a short time we will open two grassed areas along the existing rivulet track for picnics and relaxation, including installation of seating.
There will also be an informal track network throughout the land; minor upgrades to existing toilets to facilitate more intensive use of the area; and a minor refurbishment of the old clubhouse which will enable the venue to be used for cultural and creative events and other community activities.
The cost to maintain this parkland under the proposed Interim Use Plan is comparable to that of the current lease arrangements with the YMCA.
However, it is important to recognise the different public benefit derived from this change — it provides for a whole-of-community use and benefit rather than an activity that is limited to a small section of our community. It also maintains the active space while longer-term concept plans are developed, consulted and finalised.
Late last year, Golf Australia approached council seeking an opportunity to present a proposal on behalf of a mainland developer for commercial business use of the site, which was heard at a council workshop in March this year.
Despite being outside the consultation period, we took the time to hear the proposal in recognition of the long association golf has had with the land and in consideration to the golfing community.
Our feedback to Golf Australia was clear — while we appreciated the ideas and opportunitie s contained within the proposal and their passion for golf to remain, council does not want to prejudge any proposal for the site without first consulting broadly as part of a holistic concept planning process.
We want to ensure that the long-term use of the land benefits the whole of our community so it’s important that we wait for this next phase of public consultation process to occur.
It is also important to note that the major part of this land is protected by a caveat on the title requiring continued community use, so it is not possible for it to be sold or leased for private development.
We will be considering the Interim Use Plan at our upcoming council meeting on Monday, which the community can watch via livestreaming through our website.
Alderman Doug Chipman is Mayor, Clarence City Council.
Last-ditch effort for golf course reprieve
By Cameron Whiteley
KEEN golfer Owen Tubb has played at the Rosny public course for more than 20 years and has described its imminent closure as “ridiculous”.
Mr Tubb, of Bellerive, first played the course during high school and he has been a regular ever since.
He had planned to take his daughters Alexandra, 8, and Madeline, 5, to play the sport there when they were older.
Mr Tubb, 35, is among dozens of people who will attend a public meeting on Friday to try to save the course.
GOLF AUSTRALIA BOSS TEES OFF OVER COURSE CLOSURE
TALKING POINT: 100-YEAR-OLD GOLF COURSE MUST STAY
Clarence City Council wants to convert the land to public open space under its City Heart project.
But Mr Tubb said he would be deprived of the sport if the course closed and he urged council to rethink its decision.
“I feel like there’s enough community outrage about the idea and the ridiculousness of it,” he said.
A lease on the course, owned by council and operated by YMCA, expires on April 30, with final rounds expected to be played on April 24.
But Alderman Luke Edmunds has called the meeting in a last-ditch effort for the course to win a reprieve.
He has also submitted a motion to Monday night’s meeting that would keep the course open until council had a plan for the land’s use.
“We know it’s five seconds to midnight but we need to put up a fight,” he said.
“If the vote goes our way, I’m confident the council and peak bodies can work together to find an operator — whether that’s the (YMCA) or someone else — at least until a proper plan for the site is approved.”
The public meeting is at the barbecue area at Kangaroo Bay on Friday from 5pm.
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