THE Rossdale Golf Club is pushing ahead with a plan to redevelop its Aspendale golf course as Kingston Council considers its next steps.
Early plans for the proposed redevelopment of the Rossdale Golf Course were released last week. The plans, which are subject to community consultation, show large sections of the existing golf course replaced with housing of up to three storeys. Spaces for retirement housing, mixed use apartments, and pocket parks have also been allocated. The eastern section of the course, from Kincross Avenue to the border of the Edithvale-Seaford Wetlands, has been set aside as open space.
The plans for redevelopment have resulted in some backlash from residents. Last year Kingston Council publicly called for the redevelopment plans to be halted, and it is now considering implementing new planning restrictions to cover the site.
Rossdale Golf Club president Geoff Charnley said “extensive thought has gone into the general layout for the redeveloped site taking into careful consideration the feedback we have already received.” “The draft plan is based on eight design principles from earlier community feedback. These cover everything from open space to tree preservation, cultural heritage and building a sustainable community,” he said. “The Golf Club is keen to encourage feedback on the draft plan including what should be the housing mix for the development to meet the needs of the area.” He said the draft plan sees around 30 percent of the site designated as public open space.
The Golf Club’s consultation website reads that the club is still considering alternate sites to move to if its proposed redevelopment at Aspendale moves forward. “The Rossdale Golf Club is a private business on private land. The club is no longer financially viable at this site. In order to secure a long-term future for its members, the club will sell the site and is therefore considering options for the future redevelopment of the site and relocation of the club nearby,” the website reads.
The release of the plans comes at the same time as Kingston Council considers working on a planning scheme amendment for the golf course. Council wrote to planning minister Sonya Kilkenny last year seeking advice on what action it should take to guide future development at the Aspendale golf course. She wrote back that she is “satisfied that there is a clear process to guide the assessment of the proposal to redevelop Rossdale Golf Course” and told council to work with the club on the plans.
At Kingston Council’s Monday public meeting, which will be held shortly after publication deadline, councillors will consider a proposal to “authorise the commencement of the strategic background work required to inform a planning scheme amendment to apply planning controls to the Rossdale Golf Course to reflect the environmental values of the site.” If the vote is approved, council will allocate $250,000 to its 2024/2025 budget to undertake that background work.
The golf course redevelopment plans have sparked some concerned comments from residents. Kingston Residents Association president Trevor Shewan said that many people want to see the land retained. He said the golf club is “renewing their push to have their course rezoned for residential development with a new, phony round of consultation.”
“We the people want Rossdale to stay. A Facebook poll last year found 91 percent wanted it to stay. So residents should please make sure to let [Mordialloc MP] Tim Richardson and [planning minister Sonya] Kilkenny know what they want,” Shewan said. “Residents who attend the Rossdale Golf Club’s webinar or drop-in sessions next week should also please let them know whether you want Rossdale to stay or not.”
To view the full preliminary plans (pictured above) visit yourfuturerossdale.com.au. Drop-in sessions will be held at the Rossdale Golf Club clubhouse from 3pm – 6pm, Monday 29 July, and 9am – 12pm, Saturday 10 August.
First published in the Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News – 24 July, 2024