Gold Creek Country Club developers come back to community with new proposal

Following community opposition to their first proposal, Gungahlin Golf Investments has returned from the drawing board with a new long-term development plan for Gold Creek Country Club and calls for fresh feedback.

Informed by feedback received in 2018, the development company proposes constructing about 700 build-to-rent dwellings over 10 years on a currently underused portion of the golf course.

The development aims to make the commercial portion of the site financially viable long-term and help address a great need for rental accommodation in Canberra.

The proposal addresses the community’s previous concerns about potential loss of the amenity provided by the golf course, particularly where it is directly connected with existing properties. Specifically, residents did not want structures butting up against their property boundaries.

The developers have chosen a site for the new proposal where Curran Drive provides a buffer between existing homes and new structures.

Feedback collected in 2018 also expressed the community’s desire to maintain greenery, views and the 18-hole championship golf course.

The buildings in the new proposal have been capped at four storeys and will not exceed the height of the existing tree canopy on Curran Drive.

While existing properties would look over the new dwellings instead of the golf course, views to the Brindabellas and Black Mountains would not be obscured.

The proposal outlines plans to retain existing trees and allow additional greenery, including retaining 2.6 hectares within the development as parkland.

It also confirms that the development will not impact the operations of the existing 18-hole golf course.

In 2018, the community called for a quality development that was sympathetic to the surrounding suburbs and undertaken within the existing Territory Plan rules.

Communication material provided to residents suggests these values had been reflected in the proposed designs, which comply with existing zoning requirements.

This includes wide, generous footpaths for active travel and creating new links for movement through the site.

However, Gungahlin Golf Investments is seeking further feedback before lodging a development application to understand whether the community agrees and if they have suggestions for further improvements.

The new proposal presents seven precincts in total, including terrace-style townhouses and adaptable and fully accessible apartments ranging from two to four bedrooms.

Precinct one would comprise two and three-storey townhouse developments while precinct two would contain three and four-storey residential properties and precincts three, four, six and seven would comprise four-storey residential properties.

Precinct five would be a four-storey communal amenity zone, which could house a café, sporting facility or community hall at a future date.

All dwellings will be build-to-rent, meaning they will be designed and constructed for rental purposes, as well as additional amenities and community facilities. The developer will retain ownership and be responsible for maintaining public areas and amenities.

The recent ACT Budget identified the build-to-rent model as a mechanism to improve housing affordability and stability. The ACT Government has said the model “has the potential to provide long-lasting community benefits, with greater housing choice for tenants by expanding access to high-quality dwellings in a stable rental environment”.

Promotional materials suggest the development would answer a great need for alternatives to houses in Nicholls where there are very limited apartments.

It also states that the development would provide necessary alternative income streams to support golf course and clubhouse maintenance and upgrades and improve the site’s long-term financial outlook, which is currently unsustainable.

Community consultation is open now until close of business on Monday, 24 July. To share your feedback:

• Attend the Gungahlin Golf Investments display stand at the Gold Creek Country Club on Thursday, 20 July, between 11 am and 2 pm or Saturday, 22 July, between 9:30 am and 12:30 pm.
• Send an email to feedback@communicationlink.com.au.