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A computer-generated image of the proposed Parkins Bay golf course. Image supplied.
Backers of a proposed golf resort at Glendhu Bay, near Wanaka, need to do more to convince the Environment Court their plans for a championship golf course and resort development can tee-off in the future.
The Environment Court has released an interim decision from Judge Jon Jackson on the proposal for a golf resort on about 180ha of farmland on Glendhu Station overlooking Parkins Bay - a secluded part of Lake Wanaka directly west of Glendhu Bay.
The interim decision has directed golf resort company Parkins Bay Preserve Limited (PBPL) to lodge a legal memorandum outlining further conditions to mitigate landscape concerns and provide extra "environmental compensation" at the proposed site.
Judge Jackson said the resort development "as matters stand" was inconsistent with the Resource Management Act, despite the proposal being "in many ways highly laudable".
"Sustainable Golf" "Environmentally Friendly Golf" "Green Golf" "Audubon Golf" "Golf Environment Organisation" "Turfhugger"
Friday, December 31, 2010
www.turfhugger.com: Milorganite - How it's Made
www.turfhugger.com: Milorganite - How it's Made
"Sustainable Golf" "Environmentally Friendly Golf" "Green Golf" "Audubon Golf" "Golf Environment Organisation" "Turfhugger"
"Sustainable Golf" "Environmentally Friendly Golf" "Green Golf" "Audubon Golf" "Golf Environment Organisation" "Turfhugger"
Wet courses hit golf club books | Sunshine Coast News | Local News in Sunshine Coast | The Sunshine Coast Daily
Wet courses hit golf club books | Sunshine Coast News | Local News in Sunshine Coast | The Sunshine Coast Daily
Nambour Golf Club secretary manager Stephen McMahon checks out the state of the course and, left, the saturated course.
Nicola Brander
SUNSHINE Coast golf clubs are being sucked into a financial blackhole, thanks to the big wet.
Clubs are reporting income losses in the hundreds of thousands of dollars as fairways have too often become lakes in recent weeks, keeping both members and weekend hackers at bay.
The non-stop nature of the rain over the past month has meant many courses have failed to drain, rendering them unplayable.
Nambour Golf Club secretary-manger Stephen McMahon said the constant downpour had wiped $100,000 from the club's books over the past six months, the equivalent of 10% of its annual income.
“We own the golf course so we have a huge asset base, which enables us to look at our loans and what have you,” he said.
“We review everything every week. We never want to lay off staff. But our casual bar staff aren't getting work because the clubhouse is closed.
“We haven't played one Sunday this month. That's a lot of money for staff who work on a Sunday because of penalty rates.”
Yesterday, only nine holes of the Nambour course were playable.
While only two were covered in water, most were muddy and heavy under foot.
"Sustainable Golf" "Environmentally Friendly Golf" "Green Golf" "Audubon Golf" "Golf Environment Organisation" "Turfhugger"
Nambour Golf Club secretary manager Stephen McMahon checks out the state of the course and, left, the saturated course.
Nicola Brander
SUNSHINE Coast golf clubs are being sucked into a financial blackhole, thanks to the big wet.
Clubs are reporting income losses in the hundreds of thousands of dollars as fairways have too often become lakes in recent weeks, keeping both members and weekend hackers at bay.
The non-stop nature of the rain over the past month has meant many courses have failed to drain, rendering them unplayable.
Nambour Golf Club secretary-manger Stephen McMahon said the constant downpour had wiped $100,000 from the club's books over the past six months, the equivalent of 10% of its annual income.
“We own the golf course so we have a huge asset base, which enables us to look at our loans and what have you,” he said.
“We review everything every week. We never want to lay off staff. But our casual bar staff aren't getting work because the clubhouse is closed.
“We haven't played one Sunday this month. That's a lot of money for staff who work on a Sunday because of penalty rates.”
Yesterday, only nine holes of the Nambour course were playable.
While only two were covered in water, most were muddy and heavy under foot.
"Sustainable Golf" "Environmentally Friendly Golf" "Green Golf" "Audubon Golf" "Golf Environment Organisation" "Turfhugger"
Golf course backers advised to work on bay-side... | Stuff.co.nz
Golf course backers advised to work on bay-side... | Stuff.co.nz
The Environment Court says a planned $75 million golf resort near Wanaka is highly laudable but does not meet resource management objectives – yet.
Three parties appealed against the proposal to build a 180ha 18-hole professional course and resort on land at Parkins Bay, near Glendhu Bay.
Glendhu Station owners Bob and Pam McRae and Queenstown-based developer and golf course designer John Darby are behind the project, which was granted resource consent in May 2008.
The Upper Clutha Environmental Society, the Upper Clutha Tracks Trust and a third party, an Australian holiday homeowner, appealed against the Queenstown Lakes District Council resource decision.
They argued the project could harm the landscape and amenity values of Glendhu Bay.
Judge Jon Jackson's 99-page interim decision – with commissioners Charles Manning and Diane Menzies – set down dates in February for additional information and new evidence from the parties. Proceedings were adjourned for a final decision.
The interim decision says Parkins Bay Preserve Ltd's application was in many ways highly laudable.
The 18-hole course and resort would come close to achieving a sustainable pattern of golf courses in the district.
However, the application did not adequately deal with the impact of large-scale development in a rural area, the cumulative effects of any further development and the natural environment of Glendhu Station.
Judge Jackson said Parkins Bay Preserve had addressed environmental compensation only as an afterthought and should be given a right of reply after consultation with the McRae family.
If amended, the application could be pushed from failure to success, Judge Jackson said.
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