Mike Elliott: Flagstaff Hills Golf Club

Extract from Hansard

Legislative Council
25 July 2001

Mike Elliott
Leader Australian Democrats
Member of the Legislative Council

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The Hon. M.J. ELLIOTT: I seek leave to give a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Transport and Urban Planning a question about a Flagstaff Hill Golf Club subdivision.

The Hon. M.J. ELLIOTT: My understanding is that the Flagstaff Hill Golf Club is having discussions at the moment with a building company about developing fairways 13 and 14 for a housing development. It is my understanding that in 1978 governor Seaman proclaimed the golf course area as open space, because there is intense housing in the area and a real estate company could build housing, and the necessary open space was provided by the golf course. Now I am told that because the club needs the money it wants to sell the land.

I am also informed that minister Armitage only a year ago sold part of the eastern side buffer of Happy Valley Reservoir to the golf club. Many people at the time complained about the sale of buffer land around the reservoir, which people had always seen as being open space, but, with the fact it was seen as going to the golf club and remaining open space, I suppose people largely accepted it. The concern now is that, with the government having sold some open space to the golf club, the golf club is now selling off some other land which was previously recognised as open space. I seek the minister's understanding as to whether or not, indeed, all of the golf course land is proclaimed open space and whether or not government approval will be necessary for the golf club to sell that land and, if so, will the minister give that consent?

The Hon. DIANA LAIDLAW (Minister for Transport and Urban Planning): I am aware of the issue. Liberal candidate Ms Jeanes has spoken to my office about it, local member Bob Such has written to me about it, and now the honourable member has raised a question in this place about it. All that has just happened in the last two days, and I have asked my office to promptly explore the issue that has been raised now in terms of proclamations of open space. I will seek to address the local member's, the liberal candidate's and the honourable member's concerns promptly-and those of the local residents, most importantly.