Vic State Government vetoes Keysborough Project

[Mike_Duffy]

The Keysborough Golf Club has been advised that its proposed 9-hole addition has been vetoed by the Victorian State Department of Infrstructure.

Despite being encouraged to proceed with the project by the State Governement until recently, the bureaucrats who have aided the project have now given it the thumbs down.

The $350 million project funded by the Links Corporation, with the new nine holes designed by the Australian Golf Design Group (TWP), with Karrie Webb as the "name" designer, is now on hold permanently.

Of course this wouldn't have anything to do with the forthcoming State election mooted for early December and a genuflection to the Greens, who have been politically opposed to the development.

Every authority in the region supported the project and still do. The Department of Infrastructure so far has given no pertinent reasons for its last-minute objection, except to state that pending the release of a major blueprint for development in the State of Victoria to cover the next 30 years, it cannot give approval to the project.

The project would have created 450 jobs during the construction process of the course and adjacent housing development, cleaned up the Mordialloc Creek permanently, with the benefit of the establishment of new flora and fauna habitats both within the course and on its perimenter.

The project also proposed to create public access to the adjacent wetlands, and would have greatly enhanced the value of properties about to undergo construction on the nearby "The Keys" housing estate.

Even Melbourne Water, the most conservative of all the State's government authorities were enthusiastic proponents of the project, as it was  particularly enamoured with the prospect of a clean and sustainable Mordialloc Creek for the first time in memory.

This objection, in the end, is just another example of politics overriding common sense, of bowing to minority interests, of "vote-buying" with an eye to a forthcoming election.

I suspect that the 11th-hour decision to veto the project will cost the State Government more votes than it receives as a result of its unfathomable decision.

[Justin_Ryan]

Mmmm, a government that blocks TWP projects, it sounds like a Chris Kane wet dream.

[Chris Kane]

Since when do I come into this Justin?    Anyway, its not a TWP course, its a Karrie Webb course  

This sounds like Labor Party bureaucracy at its best.  I hope that they see some sense in time.  I can't see any proper reason for this project to be knocked back.

[Justin_Ryan]

Chris
I think you may have missed the three magic letters in Mike's post.

Although it may not be positive for the financial position of Keysborough golf club, as a golf course architecture forum, there are some good reasons to applaud this decision.  One of the ugliest elements of golf to emerge over recent decades has been the celebrity signature designer, and this development would have taken it to a ridiculous new level, at least in Australia.  With participation falling and plenty of existing clubs struggling, I would be perfectly happy if there were no more crappy housing development signature courses built.  It is also possible that there are dozens of valid reasons for rejecting the proposed development, it wouldn't surprise me greatly if there are plenty of other much better ways of rehabilitating Mordialloc Creek and preserving the ever diminishing green wedges in Melbourne without building another housing/golf course development.

[Will Waugh]

Have you actually seen the plans Justin? Were they really that bad?

[Justin_Ryan]

Will
I haven't seen the plans and don't know if they are good, bad or indifferent.  My comments referred to the existing housing/golf course developments around Melbourne, they are usually built on poor terrain for golf courses that is good for houses (the salt works is my favorite).  None that I have seen in my opinion had a great deal of merit (ex 13th Beach), and one only has to look up an earlier post from Mike on Hidden Valley.  Using these courses as a predictor, I think the likely outcome would range from bad to indifferent, but it's obviously horses for courses.  There is also a TWP course at a club that I'm a member of, and based on that course, I'm not surprised they opted for Karrie Webb on the billboards.  If Mike has seen the plans maybe he could comment, but I would doubt that Karrie Webb/TWP (I maybe underestimating her) would be able to produce a course which approached the standards of the surrounding area, especially if it is limited by being part of a housing development.  I'm just not convinced the role of this forum is to get indignant about the rejection of the new 9 hole Karrie Webb course and housing development.  It really is a long way removed from golf course architecture and is simply not worth fighting for, and having said that, please feel free to rip me to shreds

[Chris Kane]

Having read your reasoning Justin, I've changed my mind - the green wedges shouldn't be used for upmarket housing developments.  Might be the best thing medium-term, as Keysborough won't be able to go under.    

Who is designing the golf course isn't really the issue: would you think differently if Mike Clayton/Tom Doak/Crenshaw and Coore etc., were behind the project?  I'd hope not.  The fact that Karrie Webb/TWP did the plans is inconsequential.

I still am surprised at your comment that I'd get sexual gratification from TWP projects being knocked back    Definitely not the kind of comment that we'd expect of an upstanding, charismatic gentleman like yourself Justin.

[Mike_Duffy]

The point I was trying to make guys was that the decision was "political" and an appeasement to the Melbourne "Green Wedge" group, who number 33 in total.

This was after the developer had spent $3 million or thereabouts getting the project to where it it now, and the club having divested itself of around  $70,000 in legal advice etc.

If valid points had been proffered for consideration it would have been more digestible, however, when a government department advises "by fax" that it will oppose the project without offering any reasons for doing so, other than to hint at the release of a report sometime over the next month two, one begins to wonder where the real protest in the decision to veto lies.

Neither the Minster responsible, or the department head, have to the best of my knowledge even had the decency to eyeball the club and the developer and discuss the department's 11th hour objection to the proposal.

One can smell politics a mile away on this decision. The officer acting for the department was still making encouraging noises as late as last month, now, he is uncontactable.

The Labor State Government is targetting the Greens and its preferences for the forthcoming election, and as such, this is one of the payoffs for the clandestine deal struck with the Greens Party earlier this year.

Recently it cancelled the Dingley By Pass project, something that had been on the drawing boards for 31 years. When the Department of Infrastructe was asked for the reason(s), the reply related to the extension of the Bruwood East tram route as far as Springvale Road, saying in effect that the people of Dingley/Mentone/Mordialloc could catch the tram.

If you can figure that one out please email me, because for the life of me I can't!!!!!11

[Chris Kane]

I imagine that Karrie's victory at the British Open goes some way to softening the immense pain and sadness she must be feeling, after learning that her first design will not go ahead.

[Justin_Ryan]

Now that we have a govt that is friendly to GCA ideals and knocking back TWP projects, perhaps they can be enlisted on other, even more pressing matters.  Of course, I am referring to the renovation/redesign talk at Commonwealth.  If there is one course in Melbourne that needs to be protected from those in charge, it is this one.  Although what I am proposing may be antithetical to young Liberals types living in Monomeath Avenue, perhaps it would be appropriate to apply for heritage listing for the remaining original green complexes, before any further damage is done.  Given these greens are of international standing, it shouldn't be hard to mount a case, and even if you lost, you would still be likely to obtain plenty of publicity.  Lest any of the members are worried about suffering the same fate as the old duck from Royal Melbourne who wanted their clubhouse heritage listed, you can put my name (or preferably someone more media savvy, Mike C, Walshey, you available?) on the paperwork.  

Of course, you need to make sure that trees aren't also included.

[Chris Kane]

What recreational drugs were you on while writing that post Justin?

[Justin_Ryan]

Chris
I think you would be surprised by some of the stuff that is heritage listed.  Amongst other things, listed are disused mines, walls, degraded mullock heaps, a tree with some cuts in it, earthworks, chimneys and parks.  It should not be hard to mount an argument for the protection of the remaining original greens at Commonwealth.  An application for heritage listing has proven to be a valuable tool in raising awareness of an issue, even if unsuccessful, as proven by the woman from RM who attempted to have the clubhouse listed.  If successful, then the club would need to seek approval before any changes could be made, providing another obstacle to mindless change.  For further info, have a look at http://www.doi.vic.gov.au/heritage .

[Chris Kane]

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