Media response - Oakleigh Golf Course
Published on 02 October 2023
Approach from The Age
I’ve just got a few questions for council after speaking with the Oakleigh golf club and wanted to give the council a right of reply.
- The golf club said it feels blindsided by the way the way council “surprised” them with the news of a potential parkland on the course. What is the council’s responses to this?
- The golf club said that “social impact” wasn’t considered and criticised the council for neglecting the social impacts of the golf club for older residents who can’t play longer golf courses and have a strong social connection to the club . What is the council’s response to this?
- The proposal for a parkland has also been criticised by some residents who said there were plenty of established ovals and parkland in the area for the community. What is council’s response to this?
- There has been some disruption to golf clubs and courses in the south eastern suburbs with many selling for development. Monash council have stated it doesn’t have any other plans for the council owned course. My question is why?
- If community consultation shows a majority support to keep the golf course will council go ahead with the parkland plans?
Response
At our meeting last week, Councillors endorsed a proposal to hear from our community on the future of Oakleigh Golf Course.
We are taking feedback on two options: retaining the nine hole golf course or developing a regional park. Council is considering the future open space and sporting infrastructure needs of the community to ensure we are making the most of the space we have available in Monash so that residents can participate and be active. This includes acknowledging the historical use of the site for golf and the importance of the site for local golfers.
Council regularly assesses how our assets and services can provide the highest overall benefit to the community, while also considering the cost of providing existing assets and services and creating new assets and services. Participation data, demographic trends, and access to other courses, including Council’s second public golf course in Glen Waverley, were all considered as part of the decision to proceed with consultation on the future of the Oakleigh Golf Course.
Our open space strategy identified the need to meet the current and future needs of the community close to where they live work and play by providing a range of functions for social, physical, and environmental experiences. We know the Monash community values their open spaces highly and this consultation will help with future planning.
There are no plans to use the Oakleigh Golf Course site for anything other than recreational open space, either as a golf course or regional park. When the consultation process finishes, Councillors will consider the next steps. No changes are expected to occur for at least five years.
Access to more open space is a driving factor behind the decision to consult. Issues associated with affordable housing in Monash are currently being addressed through other strategies and not related to this site.
Council is directly engaging with Oakleigh Golf Club, Oakleigh Veterans Golf Club and Golf Australia as part of the consultation process. We also encourage golfers to complete our survey at shape.vic.gov.au/oakleigh-gc before 30 November.
Issued: 29 September 2023
To: The Age
Quoting: Cr Tina Samardzija