AFTER 10 years of lobbying by the developer to convince authorities to rezone Keysborough golf course for 800 new houses, members have decided to stay put.
“The development is not going to go ahead. We came to the end of our 10-year option agreement with the developer,” said long time club general manager, Darren Eckhardt.
The developer, Intrapac, wanted another five years on its option to try to get the project over the line. The Board asked the members for a six-month extension to review the extension proposal, but it was defeated, falling well short of the 75 per cent it needed for the extension to be considered.
Even then, the state government would have been reluctant to allow some housing to be built on the designated green wedge 27 kilometres south-east Melbourne’s CBD. The developer wanted another five years to get the golf course land out of the green wedge and have it rezoned for housing.
Despite the years of lobbying by the developer the state government has shown no inclination to rezone.
“In the end it is the members’ decision. And some of them, not all, decided to stay where we are,” Eckhardt said.
The club had plans to relocate to a new course and clubhouse at Bangholme. Such a move would also have seen Keysborough secure in its future with $30 million going directly into its coffers once the project was completed. Eckhardt said the decision was now behind the club.
The Keysborough Golf Club will continue to operate on its current site.
“We are trading well. We have money in the bank, the developer has paid us for the option and that has helped us to maintain a strong financial position.”
He said subject to approval of members, a major upgrade to the course including a sprinkler system has been approved. An upgrade of the clubhouse is also on the horizon.
“We have always hovered around the top 100 courses in Australia but we would love to move well inside that number.
“We have a strong membership at this club and we think this is a really good offering at this place as it stands. But we want to make it better. And that will happen now that we have decided to stay here.”
Keysborough is booming with a waiting list of 300 across different categories though to full membership. The club is also preparing to accept 20 new members from nearby Cranbourne, which is to be closed early next year after being sold to a developer 18 months ago.
The average age of membership is down, women now make up 21 per cent (up from 14) of members and the number of juniors (14-21 year-olds) has increased.
“This is a great place and the members are really friendly. I grew up in the bush on the Murray at Cohuna and I often say to people Keysborough reminds me of a country club in the city,” Eckhardt says proudly.
High praise indeed for any club, let alone one that just knocked back $30 million to relocate.
