Darkes Forest golf course plan
Darkes Forest golf course plan
April 24, 2008
Section: News
BUSINESS owners in the Darkes Forest area have had a mixed response to plans for a large scale golf resort to be built on their doorstep.
Located on the Illawarra Golf Course Site at Maddens Plains, the Illawarra Ridge Golf Resort development will host serviced apartments, a hotel, short stay villas, golf course, driving range, club house and restaurant.
John Read, Owner of the Darkes Forest Driving Ranch and Boarding Stables, said he believed the project would be good for business.
“I have studied the plans and think that the development makes great use of the area,” Mr Read said.
“The idea is just good all the way around – the investors are definitely looking at it the right way.”
Mr Read said he is confident the development will not detract from the natural environment.
“I think there is an oversaturation of businesses and homes being built in the Sutherland area and this is a great way to stop the progress up there and bring people down here,” he said.
But not everyone supports the idea. Rhonda Ralphs, owner of Allendell Boarding Kennels, said she had some concerns about environmental and zoning issues connected to the development proposal.
“I have issues with the environmental impacts of the development, particularly the lack of water in the region and the need for businesses’ to pump water in,” she said.
“It is a nightmare logistically.”
Mrs Ralphs also raised questions about zoning rules in the area and how the developers intended to use the space.
“We’re not allowed to subdivide any of our property – I have 25 acres and I’m not allowed to subdivide any of it,” she said.
“If we’re not allowed to, why should they be?”
The project’s environmental assessment will be on display at Wollongong City Council until May 16.
- Apr 24, 2008 @ 05:23pm
I am not surprised that tourist orientated businesses at Darkes Forest would welcome the Golf Resort, nicknamed Golfburgh by locals. I think any comment from a business owner would be slightly biased towards favouring the development. But there is already an 18 course there with one opposite as well. Why spend $107 million and end up with a 9 hole golf course? Would having 400 living quarters crammed in help a bit. Hmm, I’m sure it would. This proposal is in the middle of the Illawarra Escarpment Recreation Area surround by the Woronora and Cataract Special Area Catchments along with the Dharawal Nature Reserve and Dharawal State Recreation Area. It is a high bushfire zone. It is also subject to extreme weather conditions of rain, wind and fog, On top of that, I have just come back from filming for a further documentary on the area showing the Environmental Reality of Extreme Weather as oppose to what the developers lightly dismiss. The developers cite low visual impact yet admit there will be 2-3 storey buildings. The developers also can’t seem to make up there mind as whether it is temporary accommodation or short term stay tourist accommodation, depending whether you read their web site, their newsletter or their information they have presented to the Dept of Planning. One would think everyone should be told the same, shouldn’t they? But why do they mention 20 primary schools, fire brigade facilities and community services between Thirroul and Helensburgh for tourists? Perhaps businesses owners should have read all the information.
Comment count: 2
In further research into the proposed Golf Resort at Maddens Plains, the applicant has clearly stated in their Concept Proposal that the resort has always been envisaged to be a "holiday home" type of development particularly in relation to the villas. The target group of residents (their words) are people who own a primary place of residence elsewhere  and who would use the golf resort as a holiday retreat.†In other words, it’s a holiday home, a second place of residence. They would be selling the villas and refer to the number one members of the resort as owners of the villas, etc. The interesting thing it also seems to be quite clear that even though they own the villa, etc, they will never own the land it sits on. The reality is nothing more than a than what other real estate developers offer - homes in estates with sporting facilities, but not in the middle of nowhere and a sensitive biodiversity region. To make it worse, like cabins in a caravan park, they will not even own the land. One must query why 20 primary schools are mentioned between Thirroul and Helensburgh if it is suppose to be for temporary tourists. Of what interest is this to owners who are suppose to stay for 42 days in a row or 150 days during a 12 month period as per selling conditions? Or even tourists? The applicant makes no attempt to explain this statement.