An artist’s impression of the proposed Federal Golf Club retirement village. Image: GDH.
The Federal Golf Club has moved ahead with its long-held plans for a 125-unit retirement village development on a southern section of its Red Hill course after the approval in May of the necessary change to the Territory Plan.
Plans released for consultation ahead of a development application show 77 detached single-storey three-bedroom homes, 48 apartments across six three-storey buildings and a residents’ health and wellbeing facility containing two cinemas, gym and yoga area, pool, library and games area.
The development will be accessed via a landscaped entry driveway from Kitchener Street.
The club will also apply for a lease variation to remove its concessional status from about 5.8 hectares of the club’s 85.9ha lease area where the retirement village is to be sited, and will own both pieces of land.
The site plan shows the location of the retirement village in the south of the course.
Plan Variation 384 also rezoned more than 10 hectares of land considered to be of high ecological value in the north-west portion of the site to NUZ3 hills ridges and buffer zone to facilitate its incorporation into the Red Hill Nature Reserve. It’s one of the reasons the club’s plans have mostly been supported by the community, apart from the Garran Residents Association.
The club has argued the development, which will also include updating its water infrastructure, was needed to secure its long-term future like many other golf clubs across Canberra.
The retirement village will be operated by Mbark and built on holes 6 and 7 and the area in between, but the course will remain an 18-hole championship layout.
A street view of the retirement village. Image: GDH.
It will be set back a minimum of 50 metres, and up to 100m, from residential boundaries on Brereton Street, Ogilvie Place, Furphy Place, Ingamells Street and Kitchener Street.
This site was chosen because it is considered to be of lower biodiversity value but trees with hollows will be retained and any endemic species that need to be removed will be replaced tenfold.
The club says mature vegetation within the village area will be retained as part of more than 9000 square metres of parklands.
Resident and visitor parking will be provided, including chargers to support the use of electric vehicles.
The club is also exploring rooftop solar and battery storage to support the village’s energy needs.
A view of the proposed three-storey apartments. Image: GDH.
It says there are no plans for any further development and V384 specifically removed previously permitted uses such as hotels and motels from the lease.
Construction will be staged and the timing of each stage will depend on the prevailing market conditions, the club says.
The course layout will need to be modified but the club is working to provide 18 holes throughout the construction period.
Construction is expected to take four years including the preliminary site works and a three-year build for the village itself.
The club expects to lodge a development application later in August subject to community feedback on the proposal.
Most community groups signed off on the Assembly-required Integrated Plan for Red Hill Nature Reserve and Surrounds which paved the way for V384. But the Garran Residents Association held out, saying V384 should have been thrown out on environmental grounds and because of the loss of public land.
Federal Golf Club says the the public will still be able to walk or ride through the grounds, saying its land will remain green open space.
To learn more about the proposal and consultation sessions visit the project website.
Consultation will be open until 5 August.
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