Lane Cove Golf Course Re-development Proposal

Lane Cove Golf Course Re-development Proposal

The Lane Cove Council (LCC) has proposed an $75M sports and recreation centre to replace the golf club. The bulk and scale of the centre is unsuitable for an environmental conservation zone with endangered and protected species, surrounded by high value low density residential zone. The functions provided are incompatible, and the design makes no attempt to blend in with the setting. Furthermore, a small council like Lane Cove should not take on such major projects that service the whole of the lower north shore, where the full cost and risk of failure is borne by Lane Cove Residents alone.

This is a call for LCC and Willoughby councils to think beyond LGA boundaries and jointly deliver the Gore Hill Oval  superior option which is dedicated to sport, located on the Pacific Hwy, will serve the whole of Lower North Shore, and ticks all the planing boxes; and for LCC to upgrade the Golf club with a moderate structure and resurface the 5 tennis courts to multi-sport courts. This is in the greater public interest, and has only positive impact to the community.

The council is fully aware that the location is inappropriate and supposedly looked at other options unsuccessfully. Not having an appropriate location within the LGA should mean no recreation centre. It is not a reason to destroy this highly sought high value low density residential area. Blackmans park and the Willoughby Leisure Centre are clear examples of  the disastrous outcomes of sports centres in low density areas.

The costs make it imperative that it services the whole of Lower North Shore and it will be used less than 15% by Lane Cove residents (as per Xypher’s workshop presentation – of 267,832 people - Lane Cove’s 34,797 is 14.7%). However, the location does not support this as there is no public transport, so it is likely to cause severe hourly 15 minute traffic gridlock over the weekends for Longueville, Northwood, Greenwich and Osborn Park.

In constrast the $45M Willoughby council proposal for a 6 indoor court (vs 4) centre near Gore Hill Oval (1km from this site), is a far superior. It is on the Pacifica highway, serviced by bus, St Leonards station and the new metro. It ticks all the boxes and is delivered at half the price. Taking into consideration the indoor basketball courts in Crows nest (2km from this site), once again well serviced by all modes of public transport; this proposal is redundant and the 3rd location of choice.

Furthermore, the Gore Hill oval proposal has a $72M option which includes other facilities such as sports hall, health and fitness centre. We should fund the additional $27M and build the superior Willoughby solution, and simply upgrade the golf club. The council is fully aware of this option, and yet it has not been shared with the community as an option. 

If this proceeds there will be 3 indoor stadiums within a radius of 1km, when including the Northern Suburbs Basket Ball centre at Crows nest; which is simply bad planning.

The traffic analysis is deeply flawed as it uses averages instead of hourly 15 minute pulses at game changeover times, as experienced at the Willoughby Liesure center on weekends.

The business case is flawed as it is largely based on basket ball association needs, but does not take into consideration the Willoughby proposal, which is clearly the prefered option, as it is located 1km away from the Crows nest headquarters, and ticks all the boxes relating planning. It eliminates all primary catchment areas other than Lane cove (i.e. Willoughby, Mosman and North Sydney) as defined in the Xypher’s workshop presentation; thus invalidating the business case and making this proposal financially unviable.

It is inappropriate for the Lane Cove rate payer to undertake the full funding and high risk of failure, of a facility which it uses only 15%. A sports centre for the lower north shore, is a matter for State government and a group of councils, not Lane Cove Council alone. The initiative is purely driven by the construction lobby within the council who also proposed concreting the Bob Campbel oval.

In the current financial environement with steeply rising interest rates, this may well lead the council to infringe its solvency ratios /bankruptcy. There could already be a budget shortfall of up to $15M, due to rapidly increasing construction costs, missing costs elements and inappropriate allocations of council funds. There is no risk analysis which covers sensitivity to CPI, interest rates and cost blowouts. It is a financially irresponsible proposal which maximises construction, with no sensitivity to the impacts to the conservation zone and amenity of the surrounding residences. 

The council claims there is some public support for the centre, but this was at an early stage before even a particular option was selected, and none of the key issues such as financial and traffic gridlock and the Willoughby council proposal, were known. The proposal is now being pushed through, purely by the pro-construction lobby of the council and the mayor, against the will of the public as shown by the number of objectors at the council meeting on 23 March 2023 (24 against :1 supporting) and submissions to the SNPP.

This action is to email the Chairman of the Sydney North Planning Panel, key councillors of Lane Cove Council, the auditor general NSW and the Office of Local Government and the Ombudsman NSW; objecting to the proposed Sports and recreation centre and asking for the joint delivery of the Gore Hill Oval superior option. Also, for a review of use of council funds. It will also be submitted as an objection to the DA.

For more information or questions, please email [email protected]

The Lane Cove Council (LCC) has proposed an $75M sports and recreation centre to replace the golf club. The bulk and scale of the centre is unsuitable for an environmental conservation zone with endangered and protected species, surrounded by high value low density residential zone. The functions provided are incompatible, and the design makes no attempt to blend in with the setting. Furthermore, a small council like Lane Cove should not take on such major projects that service the whole of the lower north shore, where the full cost and risk of failure is borne by Lane Cove Residents alone.

This is a call for LCC and Willoughby councils to think beyond LGA boundaries and jointly deliver the Gore Hill Oval  superior option which is dedicated to sport, located on the Pacific Hwy, will serve the whole of Lower North Shore, and ticks all the planing boxes; and for LCC to upgrade the Golf club with a moderate structure and resurface the 5 tennis courts to multi-sport courts. This is in the greater public interest, and has only positive impact to the community.

The council is fully aware that the location is inappropriate and supposedly looked at other options unsuccessfully. Not having an appropriate location within the LGA should mean no recreation centre. It is not a reason to destroy this highly sought high value low density residential area. Blackmans park and the Willoughby Leisure Centre are clear examples of  the disastrous outcomes of sports centres in low density areas.

The costs make it imperative that it services the whole of Lower North Shore and it will be used less than 15% by Lane Cove residents (as per Xypher’s workshop presentation – of 267,832 people - Lane Cove’s 34,797 is 14.7%). However, the location does not support this as there is no public transport, so it is likely to cause severe hourly 15 minute traffic gridlock over the weekends for Longueville, Northwood, Greenwich and Osborn Park.

In constrast the $45M Willoughby council proposal for a 6 indoor court (vs 4) centre near Gore Hill Oval (1km from this site), is a far superior. It is on the Pacifica highway, serviced by bus, St Leonards station and the new metro. It ticks all the boxes and is delivered at half the price. Taking into consideration the indoor basketball courts in Crows nest (2km from this site), once again well serviced by all modes of public transport; this proposal is redundant and the 3rd location of choice.

Furthermore, the Gore Hill oval proposal has a $72M option which includes other facilities such as sports hall, health and fitness centre. We should fund the additional $27M and build the superior Willoughby solution, and simply upgrade the golf club. The council is fully aware of this option, and yet it has not been shared with the community as an option. 

If this proceeds there will be 3 indoor stadiums within a radius of 1km, when including the Northern Suburbs Basket Ball centre at Crows nest; which is simply bad planning.

The traffic analysis is deeply flawed as it uses averages instead of hourly 15 minute pulses at game changeover times, as experienced at the Willoughby Liesure center on weekends.

The business case is flawed as it is largely based on basket ball association needs, but does not take into consideration the Willoughby proposal, which is clearly the prefered option, as it is located 1km away from the Crows nest headquarters, and ticks all the boxes relating planning. It eliminates all primary catchment areas other than Lane cove (i.e. Willoughby, Mosman and North Sydney) as defined in the Xypher’s workshop presentation; thus invalidating the business case and making this proposal financially unviable.

It is inappropriate for the Lane Cove rate payer to undertake the full funding and high risk of failure, of a facility which it uses only 15%. A sports centre for the lower north shore, is a matter for State government and a group of councils, not Lane Cove Council alone. The initiative is purely driven by the construction lobby within the council who also proposed concreting the Bob Campbel oval.

In the current financial environement with steeply rising interest rates, this may well lead the council to infringe its solvency ratios /bankruptcy. There could already be a budget shortfall of up to $15M, due to rapidly increasing construction costs, missing costs elements and inappropriate allocations of council funds. There is no risk analysis which covers sensitivity to CPI, interest rates and cost blowouts. It is a financially irresponsible proposal which maximises construction, with no sensitivity to the impacts to the conservation zone and amenity of the surrounding residences. 

The council claims there is some public support for the centre, but this was at an early stage before even a particular option was selected, and none of the key issues such as financial and traffic gridlock and the Willoughby council proposal, were known. The proposal is now being pushed through, purely by the pro-construction lobby of the council and the mayor, against the will of the public as shown by the number of objectors at the council meeting on 23 March 2023 (24 against :1 supporting) and submissions to the SNPP.

This action is to email the Chairman of the Sydney North Planning Panel, key councillors of Lane Cove Council, the auditor general NSW and the Office of Local Government and the Ombudsman NSW; objecting to the proposed Sports and recreation centre and asking for the joint delivery of the Gore Hill Oval superior option. Also, for a review of use of council funds. It will also be submitted as an objection to the DA.

For more information or questions, please email [email protected]

Stop Mega Recreation Centre in Northwood

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  1. Focus on items that directly affect you, such as traffic
  2. The better willoughby council Gorehill Oval proposal at our doorstep, to which we could contribute to implement the superior option for all of lower north shore.
  3. Procedural issues such as Exhibition at Christmas break, and now SNPP during easter break, an intentional attempt to disenfranchise the community; and
  4. Members of the SNPP panel and LC Local Planning Planel  not being council appointments due to its control over their future financial benefits, while being the applicant.
  5.  use of council funds for a facility used used by only 15% LC.

GOOD LUCK!