Federal Golf Club development: meeting with club members 22 February 2016

The proponents of the proposed housing development on part of the Federal Golf Club lease, MBark, held a club members only meeting on 22 February 2010. An account from that meeting can be read below.

Over 55’s Development Proposal Presentation Evening You’re invited to the Over 55’s Development Proposal Presentation Evening. Monday 22 February 6.30pm – 8.30pm Federal Golf Club – Function Rooms A concept design of the Over 55s Development will be presented by the Club’s development partner, MBark. All Members are invited and indeed encouraged to attend this important meeting on the future direction of the Club. Member feedback from this night is critical and a forum to raise questions will be organised on a separate occasion soon after. In accordance with the Club’s Constitution, a Member vote has been scheduled for Monday 21 March at 6.30pm.  For further information, please contact the General Manager at fgc@fgc.com.au or in person at the front office. Cam Sullings Assistant General Manager Federal Golf Club Canberra T | 02 6281 1888 E | operations@fgc.com.au W | www.fgc.com.au PO Box 3039 Manuka ACT 2603 | Gowrie Drive, Red Hill ACT 2603

 

The presentation was a 2 hour overview with powerpoint and q and a. Red Hill Regenerators were mentioned quite a few times by MBark, and very favourably; professional, forward thinking, polite cooperative etc etc.
And they have obviously listened to you.

The concept plan, emphasis on concept as opposed to set in stone , is for the majority of the housing  to be on the current practice fairway,well inside the golf club away from the reserve.   This was referred to as an island development, which for some is not what they wanted or anticipated, preferring housing on the perimeter. The practice fairway will be moved to the area above the 14th, on the  “spare” fairway beside Gowrie Drive. The other part of the housing is a new road parallel to the houses at the back of Brereton Street homes, along the 9th fairway. So for Regenerators they have probably meet most, if not all RHR requests. For a Brereton St resident there are some issues!

The next step is a member vote on 21 March and after that, assuming members  vote in favour,  a  3 month consultation period with stakeholders and interested parties. They anticipate a 12 to 18 month approval and lease variation process following. And then 4-5 year staged building plan, about 25- 35 houses built each year.

MBark did a letter drop  to to all directly affected Brereton St residents about 1 hour before the meeting. The letter offers the opportunity for Mbark to come and give a personal ” view study” , ie what your new outlook will look like . What the letter does not directly say is that there are plans for houses on your back doorstep, with a small green space and path between the  current houses and new road. It also doesn’t say that the member meeting/ decision point is less than 1 month away.

One member and Brereton St resident  spoke and said it was too much to ask for Brereton st  residents and he would vote against. There was a question about the original plans that they did reveal of housing above the 14th fairway. MBark said they didn’t believe that option would get approval and if that is what the club wanted they would walk away.

Most people who spoke seemed to be in favour, or at least not opposed. But 130 houses takes a lot of space!