The Queenscliff Golf Club on Victoria’s Swan Island is under threat due to a Defence Department land sell off.
GOLF Australia will do its utmost to prevent the demise of five public access golf courses hit by the Albanese government’s decision to sell off 68 Defence Department properties which could add as much as $3 billion to federal coffers.
The affected courses are in Victoria, the ACT and Queensland.
Three are 18-hole layouts – the very popular Queenscliff course at Swan Island, Laverton which is run by the RAAF, both in Victoria; and Fairbairn in the ACT, run by a local operator.
“Golf Australia has been working closely with clubs in relation to the Australian Government’s divestment of Defence land. Our focus is on supporting clubs and operators to secure the best possible outcomes for golf and for the communities these facilities serve,” said GA’s Damien de Bohun, general manager of Places to Play.
“At a time when golf is booming nationally, protecting public access golf is critical. Almost half Australia’s four million adult golfers are casual round players, who rely on public access courses, making them central to participation, inclusion and affordability. The reality is that with the burgeoning growth of the game, we need more public access golf facilities, not fewer.”
He said when the social, health and community benefits of golf are evaluated, they consistently show ongoing investment in golf as a vital piece of community infrastructure.
The Fairbairn Golf Club in the ACT is a popular public access course.
“Many of these sites have operated as public open space for decades, and there is strong precedent across Australia for land transfers or alternative ownership models that preserve ongoing public access.
“Golf Australia will continue to work with clubs and all layers of government to secure long-term outcomes that retain open, accessible golf at these facilities. All of them deliver value for their communities.”
The five golf courses under threat are:
• Kokoda Barracks, Qld – licensed to Canungra Golf Club for a 9-hole golf course with public access for sale.
• Fairbairn, ACT – licensed to operator, 18-hole public access
• Swan Island, VIC – licensed to Queenscliff Golf Club, 18-hole public access
• RAAF Williams Laverton, VIC – licensed to RAAF Williams Laverton Golf Club, 18-hole public access
• HMAS Cerberus, VIC – licensed to Cerberus Golf Club, 9-hole public access. Golf course and public land (large size) for sale.
The federal government has announced a shake-up designed to shrink the real estate footprint across the country for the Department of Defence with a major sale of 68 military sites well underway.
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