Federal Golf Club adds driving range, pitch and putt to possible subdivision uses

Federal Golf Club insists it’s not a Plan B, but in its latest amendment to its retirement village plans, the club has added two driving ranges, an 18-hole pitch and putt course and a new clubhouse to possible uses on the Red Hill course.

The amendment is proposed to its DA to subdivide the current lease into two parcels to excise land for the $103 million retirement village proposal from the club’s development partner, Mbark.

Mbark proposes to build 125 dwellings, including 77 single-storey houses and 48 apartments across six three-storey buildings, and a health and wellbeing centre for residents.

The development also comes with a new access road, reconfiguration of the course, tree removal, landscape works, and a new pond and dam.

If approved the amended DA will increase the development carve-out from 5.8 hectares to almost seven to allow for a dam, and shows concept plans for possible new golfing facilities.

New club president Regina Neary says in a message to members posted on the club website that the Planning Authority had asked for alternative golfing uses from the 6th and 7th holes on the subdivided land if the retirement village proposal fell through.

Ms Neary, who recently replaced David Bain-Smith after he quit in protest at the renewed partnership with Mbark, said these concept plans were for illustration purposes only.

“There is no plan or intention for the club to use the area for anything other than the existing 6th and 7th holes in the event that the retirement village is not approved,” she told members.

Ms Neary also said the hole 3 dam would not be part of the village sublease.

The group fighting the club’s development proposal, Friends of Federal Fairways, said it was astounded at this latest chapter in the development saga.

Spokesperson Ian Mackay said the amendments were not minor and would result in substantial changes to the course.

“Not only does this amendment seek to increase the area of land for the retirement village subdivision by around 20 per cent, but they are proposing to turn the existing 6th and 7th fairways into either all-weather driving ranges or a pitch and putt complete with a new clubhouse, large carpark and new entry road off Kitchener Street,” he said.

Mr Mackay said this DA was the first the community had heard of it.

“It certainly was not raised during any community consultation,” he said.

“Federal Golf Club members also knew nothing of it until it was notified by the planning authority recently.”

Mr Mackay said the board might say it had no intention of proceeding with these proposals yet it had put them forward to the Planning Authority for consideration.

“The reality is they can be done if the DA is approved,” he said.

“People can still object to this ludicrous amendment until 18 June via the ACT Planning website and we encourage submissions.”

FOFF opposes the development on environmental grounds because it will mean a loss of public access to the development area, disruption to the course, and loss of community land.

It also argues the proposal does not stack up financially for the club.

A DA for early works has already been approved, but it is dependent on multiple other DAs, including to deconcessionalise the lease, being approved.