Federal Golf Club Developments: 1999 to 2014

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This post summarises the history of attempts by the Federal Golf Club to develop parts of its lease, from 1999 to mid 2015.

 

  • Red Hill and Federal Golf Club lease boundaries Sheet 1  and Sheet 2
  • Federal Golf Club lease
  • 5 May 2015: The Regenerators again wrote to Simon Corbell, Minister for the Environment, asking that the unused part of the golf course lease be transferred to the Red Hill Reserve. It is noted that in May 2012 Minister Corbell undertook to consider this proposal. More…

2013: Residential Retirement Units development

  • 2 May 2013: Federal Golf Club development proposal.The Red Hill Regenerators has been keeping in touch with the President of the Federal Golf Club, Ron Thomson, and there have been some valuable discussions.The Club invited people adjoining the golf course in April 2013 to a “meet and greet”. They outlined a new potential development option, which involves construction of 11 blocks of flats containing either 132 or 198 units depending on whether the blocks are two or three storeys.The potential development is located near the current clubhouse, which is better than past proposals in that it may not directly involve clearance of endangered woodland, while the early public notification of a potential proposal by the golf club is to be commended. Red Hill Regenerators wrote to Simon Corbell, Minister for the Environment on 3 May 2013 acknowledging the positives of the potential development but expressing some concern about the scale of the proposal. We have also encouraged them to ensure that the development is adequately considered by government with appropriate input from the community before any approval is given. A reply to this letter has not been received.
  • 16 March 2013: Federal Golf Club Development Options. January 2013.In 2012, the ACT government offered $15,000 grants to a number of clubs to investigate options for alternative revenue streams to gaming machines and to “support the supply of new housing in Canberra through urban intensification”. The Federal Golf Club took up this opportunity and employed consultants to prepare a report for the Club to consider.Red Hill Regenerators and the golf club have held informal meetings to discuss matters of mutual interest and, as part of these meetings, RHR were provided with a copy of this report. It is broad in its nature and canvassed a range of possible revenue streams from the use of its lease, some more likely to be seriously considered than others. While is there is no commitment to any of these, the list included a hotel, a guesthouse, over 55’s retirement living and childcare facilities. The report did not provide any details of the size or nature of any buildings required. A number of areas of the club’s lease that are not being used for golf were identified and each considered for their viability for development against a range of criteria. The report concluded that the area around the current clubhouse was the most likely area for development with the currently disused fairway (to the north, alongside the golf club road) being a secondary option. The reasons for this conclusion included the other areas considered being close to housing or including areas of high conservation value. The Club has for some time wished to gain improved clubhouse facilities and its possible that any development in that central area may help them achieve this by including a new or refurbished clubhouse.Also included in the report was a strong recommendation for prior engagement with interested groups including RHR. The current discussions with Ron Thomson, the Club President, have been constructive and the intention is to maintain this effective dialogue.
  • 28 November 2012 (report on ABC): The Federal Golf Club in Canberra’s south is again exploring whether its grounds can be used for residential development.
  • The club at Red Hill relies on membership fees and catering for revenue. But the club says it needs to diversify its income to ensure its long-term survival. Earlier this year the club received a $15,000 grant from the ACT Government for a feasibility study to explore commercial opportunities.“This grant will enable us to use expertise that we don’t have, to come up with ideas that perhaps we haven’t thought of,” said club president Ron Thompson.He says that could include a new restaurant, convention facilities, a small hotel, or apartments.“We are aiming for at least a report that gives us an opportunity to look at alternatives or the options for the longer term,” he said.“We don’t expect to see anything come out of this in the very short-term, either in a response from the government or in the ability to proceed with a development proposal.”Mr Thompson says the club needs extra revenue to build more water storage to drought proof the golf course.“To make us less reliant on the very costly utility charges that are occurring in this town,” he said.“The golf course is a high maintenance agricultural business and there’s a lot of capital works that are required just to maintain its functionality.”The National Capital Authority recently scrapped plans for a new diplomatic estate to be built on land next to the club. The Club is required to report back to the ACTG by 4 December 2012 with a copy of their assessment report of the viability of the selected site for residential development, which appears to be the club’s preference. The proposed development footprint is the current clubhouse and car park about 13,500m.The Regenerators issues for consideration include:
    1. Widening or re-alignment of the access road;
    2. The need for new fire asset protection zones within the reserve to protect any facilities, residents
    3. The need for new or upgraded infrastructure serving the facility which may cross the nature park or box gum woodland
    4. The possible creation of a through road from Garran to Deakin
    5. That the scale of residential development could be such that daily residential traffic, recreational use of the nearby reserve, or the increased urban footprint would be likely to significantly impact on the reserve and its high conservation values.

2012: Embassies development

  • On 15 June 2012 the NCA released its findings regarding its proposal to develop embassies on part of the FGC lease. The NCA has concluded that “Taking into account the site analysis and feedback from the community, the Authority, at its last meeting removed the land adjacent to the Federal Golf Club from further consideration.” More…
  • “Red hill ruled out for embassies” Canberra Times June 16 2012
  • Minister for Planning Simon Corbell_agreed  to consider the Regenerator’s request  to resume part of the FGC lease and return it to the Red Hill Nature Reserve (May 2012).
  • Following discussions with NCA at the March 2012 drop in sessions it has been ascertained that:
    1. The Emergency Services Authority has advised the NCA that a 300m outer asset fire protection zone will need to be created to the northern and western edges of the proposal. This would involve removal of most shrubs and saplings within the outer asset protection zone and maintaining grass and herb understorey to prescribed levels that would most likely require burning once every five years or so. If the embassies went ahead this zone would be within Red Hill Nature Reserve and would significantly degrade small bird habitat. If the zone was restricted to golf club land it would rule out around 80% of the development.
    2. Consultants to NCA, Gutteridge, Haskins & Davey P/L in around 2008, undertook an assessment of 30 potential embassy sites. The report identified Curtin Horse paddocks as the most suitable site. The Federal Golf Club lease site was not included in the list.
    3. If the diplomatic development was to proceed on the Golf Club site there would be a requirement for “several means of egress”. In other words it is likely that Brereton Street in Garran or Downes Place in Hughes (or both) would be opened to through traffic.
  • Red Hill Regenerators executive met with National Capital Authority consultants Beaconhill Consulting on 8 March 2012 to discuss the evaluation of alternative sites for embassies. A report of those discussions is here. The next steps in this process are “It is intended that contact is maintained between RHR and NCA to discuss timeframes of the study process and seek to cooperatively prepare for broader engagement mid-year”
  • The National Capital Authority will hold drop-in sessions between March 18 and 21 2012, from 4.30pm to 5.30pm at Red Hill Lookout, to discuss the three possible locations for a new diplomatic development in Canberra. This is an opportunity for interested members of the community to speak directly to NCA consultants and members of the NCA (find a summary of the issues here). The study team are looking to further identify the values, local uses and site issues in relation to each of the possible locations for inclusion in their analysis. (March 2012) More…
  • “Clubs find way out of the rough”  Canberra Times 12 November 2011
  • Red Hill Regenerators completed a tree  type and size survey of the proposed ’embassies precinct’ site and sent a comprehensive report on the conservation values of this area to the NCA (October 2011).

 

FGCembassiesproposal_areaOct2011-2

  • Canberra Times reports that the National Capital Authority plan to investigate the site for use as an ’embassies precinct’. It is understood that the 15Ha parcel, which is part of the Federal Golf Club’s concessional lease, was proposed by the Federal Golf Club in March 2011. (30 August 2011). Comments closed, report here

2010: Residential development

 

Approximate location of proposed housing development
Approximate location of proposed housing development

Approximate location of proposed housing development. Click here for larger image

 

Background to 2010 development proposal

The Federal Golf Club has experienced declining membership for some time, resulting in insufficient funds to enable the Club to drought-proof the course and secure its future. In order that funds could be raised, the Club has put a propsal to the ACT Government on four previous occasions since the 1990s, to excise part of its existing concessional lease in order that about 4 hectares of land could be used to develop about 59 residences.

The location of the proposed development is at the north end of the course, adjacent to the Golf Club access road and the Red Hill Nature Park, in an area of highly modified Yellow Box – Red Gum woodland.

A proposal was submitted to the ACT Government in 1999 (Draft Variation 94). It was supported by the then Chief Minister Carnell, the Planning Minister and ACTPLA, but was rejected by the Assembly during a motion of disallowance, by Shadow Planning Minister Corbell. Mr Corbell argued that the proposal was inconsistent with Territory Plan, a threat to open space, and inappropriate to change the concessional lease. The proposal was also strongly opposed by the comunity, with over 460 objections being recorded (read one of the objector’s submission here).

Planning Report(June 2009)

The FGC produced a Planning Report in June 2009 which included a community consultation component. This time the Report noted that the community displayed less interest and in general supported the proposal. It appears that the support was given on the grounds that a small development which would secure the financial future of the Club was preferable to allowing the Club to cease operations, with the potential that the whole area could be redeveloped for housing. The Planning Report was widely criticised by Government agencies as having many deficiencies and unresolved issues, including that the original Corbell arguments against the proposal had not been addressed.

Environmental Impact Statement (February 2010)

Despite the internal government criticism of the proposal, the Chief Minister argued that, because an EIS would be required prior to consideration of a change to the concessional golf course lease (known as deconcessionalisation), therefore the situation had changed (from the time of the last rejection of the proposal), and the development could therefore be reconsidered.

In October 2009, the Club was required by ACTPLA to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement consistent with the requirements set out in a Scoping Document. As part of the EIS, the Club would be required to undertake further community consultation, including with the Red Hill Regenerators.

The ‘public consultation’ process consisted on two ‘information evenings’ held at the Golf Club. This was advertised in the Canberra Times and by distribution of fliers to residences in the vicinity of Red Hill. The consultants stated that 1000 residences were contacted through fliers. The published map which showed the area where the flier distribution took place however, somewhat deceptively, includes over 2000 residences.

The EIS was completed on 17 February 2010 and published on the ACTPLA web site on 1 March 2010 (Since removed from the website). Comments were invited to be submitted to the ACTPLA before 29 March 2010. The Red Hill Regenerators and many other individuals and groups sent submissions regarding the EIS (More…).

Why it is important to save this 4 hectares of Red Gum – Yellow Box woodland

White Box-Yellow Box-Blakely’s Red Gum grassy woodland and Derived Native Grassland and the natural temperate grasslands of the Southern Tablelands of NSW and the ACTare listed as critically endangered under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act). Red Hill Nature Reserve contains 250 hectares of relatively intact woodland. Recently East O’Malley woodland was bulldozed to build residences and soon another 121ha out of 464ha will be bulldozed in the Molonglo Valley for more housing. Owing to the ongoing destruction of this critically endangered ecosystem it is vital that every effort is made to save the 4 ha on the Federal Golf Course.

Next steps: advocacy

The Red Hill Regenerators prepared a “Rally for Red Hill” flier and petition. The flier was distributed in April 2010 to 1000 households close to Red Hill, in Deakin, Forest, Red Hill, Hughes and Garran. The petition was circulated widely to collect signatures of those who objected to the development. Interested citizens were invited to download and sign the petition.

At a meeting of the Woden Community Council on 7 April 2010, Simon Corbell was asked where he stood on the Golf Course development. He was unequivocal in stating to the whole meeting that he was opposed to the proposal, and that this was the view he had in 1999 and it hadn’t changed. He said that he would argue strongly with his labor colleges that the proposal should not be supported.

A presentation about the proposed development was made by the Regenerators to the Woden Community Council meeting on 5 May 2010. The Regenerators also addressed the  Parkcare co-ordinator’s meeting on 22 April 2010, the Southern Catchment Management Group on 27 April 2010 and the Field Naturalists Association.

What is deconcessionalisation?

The sequence of approvals and assessment is as follows:

  • the golf club must address those issues identified in the EIS scoping document for which the EIS provided inadequate information;
  • Minister Barr would normally then make a decision about whether deconcessionalisation is in the public interest or not. In this case however, the Cabinet will make that decision;
  • An objector can take a decision to grant deconcessionalisation (which is a development approval) to the Administrative Tribunal, where argument is on the merit of the decision;
  • if a deconcession is issued then the golf club must prepare detailed documentation for public comment on why a draft variation to change the use from private recreation to housing should occur;
  • if a change to the Territory Plan is requested in relation to this matter then it will need to be inquired into by the Assembly Standing Committee on Planning,Public Works and Territory and Municipal Services, chaired my Mary Porter, MLA. If it is referred then public consultation will need to be undertaken by this Committee. This consultation will be advertised and submissions called. In addition, public hearings will also be held;
  • whether or not a draft variation is approved is a decision of the Legislative Assembly;
  • if the variation is approved then the golf club has to prepare a development application, when there will be further opportunity for public comment.

The first step in the development process is to deconcessionalise the part of the Golf Club lease required for the development. The Minister Andrew Barr will need to demonstrate that it is in the community interest to take this step. It is vital that the community tells the Minister why it believes that this is not in the community interest.


More and more people have put in a submission, so there certainly is already a big community message that deconcessionalisation is not in the public interest.


Whether or not Minister Barr heeds that message will be influenced by our lobbying. Our advice from Kirsten Miller of the Environmental Defenders Office, is that we will not be able to object in the Administrative Appeals Tribunal to the Minister’s decision under Section 261 of the Planning and Development Act, that granting a deconcession is in the community interest. The decision could be taken to the Supreme Court to argue that the Minister has not followed due legal process, but this seems a costly and unproductive route, unless we have good reason to believe that the Minister has not followed due process.


The decision by the Planning Authority under Section 162 of the Planning and Development Act to vary the lease for the deconcession, ie putting into affect the minister’s decision, can be taken to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal and argued on the basis of merit. It will cost $170 to lodge an objection and must be done within 28 days after the Minister’s decision.

Planning Minister Barr wrote to RHRG on 7 June 2010 setting out his views regarding this proposed development and the required planning processes.

Meeting with National Capital Authority June 2010

Members of RHRG met with NCA Chief Executive Gary Rake and Andrew Smith. NCA approval is required for any excavation works within the designated area, which includes the Red Hill Nature Reserve. They have given in principle support to road works being consistent with the National Capital Plan, as it is largely roadworks within an existing road corridor. Their main concern is with aesthetics and whether works will impinge on the view from the parliamentary triangle (which in this case they wont). They were unaware and had not been approached in regards to other infrastructure requirements that will be placed within the designated area, such as water and gas mains, and have some concern with regard to these. In relation to impact on Box _Gum woodland they would take the lead from the Deaprtment of Environment Water Heritage and Arts, If the EPBC Act is triggered both direct and indirect impacts will need to be considered. The NCA encouraged the RHRG to approach DEWHA directly (which we will do). In relation to adverse impact on possible plantings of Grevillea’s by Charles Weston, NCA thought that a condition of any approval could be a requirement to undertake further planting.

Minister Barr indicated a position regarding development on Golf Courses in a letter dated 3 December 2010 to the Old Narrabundah Community Council in which he stated his opposition to development on the Capital Golf Course.

2007: Residential Development Proposal

In October 2007 the Federal Golf Club (FGC) submitted an almost identical proposal to the Government, which was again supported in principle by the Chief Minister Stanhope, Planning Minister Barr and the ACTPLA, subject to a number of conditions being met.

1999: Residential Development Proposal to build 59 dwellings

On 8 October 1999, the ACT Assembly Standing Committee on Urban Services (membership included Simon Corbell, Minister for the Environment in 2015), published Report No 31, which inquired into a proposal by the FGC to vary the Territory Plan (Draft Variation No 94)  to enable development to be undertaken.  The Draft Variation proposed:

  1. First, it would allow for the development of 59 dwellings on a 4.703 hectare site within the Federal Golf Club’s lease on Block 1 Section 56, Red Hill. This involves changing the existing Restricted Access Recreation Landuse Policy to Residential with a new Area Specific Policy introducing controls on the development. The latter would permit limited three-storey development in a relatively low-density setting.
  2. Second, the dV reclassifies an area of 9.221 hectares on the Federal Golf Club’s lease from Restricted Access Recreation to Hills, Ridges & Buffer Areas with a Public Land (Nature Reserve) overlay. This area would remain part of the Golf Club’s lease but would be subject to a Property Management Agreement with Environment ACT.

In response, the Committee recommended:

  1. The committee recommends that the Legislative Assembly note the petition from the Federal Golf Club that is addressed to the Speaker and Members of the Legislative Assembly and which was tabled at the public hearing conducted by the Standing Committee on Urban Services on 3 September 1999.
  2. The committee recommends that, before making a decision on the draft Variation, the government carefully re-examine the proposed arrangements for managing the 9.22 hectares of environmentally significant land to be designated as Public Land (Nature Reserve). While accepting that the proposed arrangements give greater protection to the land than currently exists, the committee considers that the government should assess whether the area deserves the even greater protection offered by incorporating it into Red Hill Reserve.
  3. The committee recommends that the Urban Open Space land off Kitchener Street, Garran—at the south-western boundary of the Federal Golf Club (Section 10 Block 74, Garran)—remain as Urban Open Space.
  4. The committee recommends that, whatever the outcome of the present draft Variation process, further housing on the Federal Golf Course should not be permitted.
  5. The committee recommends that, should the draft Variation be endorsed by the government, the Federal Golf Club indemnify the Territory against any possible accidents that may arise from wayward golf balls in the area set aside for housing.
  6. The committee recommends that the government institute appropriate planning actions to ensure that a road is not constructed linking Brereton Street, Garran, and the present access road to the Federal Golf Course off Red Hill Drive.
  7. The committee recommends that all dams for the Federal Golf Course be located within the Club’s boundary; and that a series of dams of moderate wall height replace the single large dam once envisaged on land near existing houses.
  8. The committee recommends that draft Variation No.94 be endorsed. One member of the committee dissents from this recommendation (see separate Dissent at page 10).

The dissenting Committee member was Simon Corbell, who recommended:

  1.  That Draft Variation No.94 not be endorsed in its current form.
  2. That the area of Public Land outlined in Draft Variation No.94 to be expanded by 9.221 hectares to incorporate land currently included in the Restricted Access Recreation Land Use Policy be instead incorporated into Red Hill Nature Reserve.
  3. That the 4.703 hectares of land in the north eastern part of Section 56, Block 1, Red Hill currently included in the Restricted Access Recreation Land Use Policy and proposed for the development of 59 dwellings not be changed to Residential.
  4. That the Government explore further options for incorporating the 4.703 hectares of the north eastern part of Section 56, Block 1, Red Hill into the Red Hill Nature Reserve under clause 6(c) of the Federal Golf Clubs lease, so as to protect the integrity of the formal and informal open space network in the area.

Read Report No 31 of the Standing Committee.

Read the Gazetted Draft Variation No 94

Read the Draft Variation No 94 (March 1999)

Read the Office of the Commissioner for Land and Planning decision (26 October 1999)

Read the community flier circulated by the Hughes Resident’s Association in 1999 to oppose the proposed development