The Mount Lofty Golf Estate Pty Ltd proposes to redevelop the Stirling Golf Club, to include:

(a) the construction of tourist accommodation in a new 3-5 story hotel building and private retreats (pods) (105 rooms in total)

(b) new clubhouse facility and pro-shop, administration areas and change rooms;

(c) retention and improvements to the 18-hole golf course; 

d) conservation works and adaptive reuse of a local heritage place to accommodate a multipurpose café, retail and function space;

(e) car parking in the order of 200 spaces in two parking areas; and

(f) tree removal (including native vegetation) and associated landscaping.

Local Stirling residents have major concerns about the environmental impact a development of this scale will have on the surrounding environment.

We urge you to read the updates as they are posted.

 https://plan.sa.gov.au/development_applications/state_development/impact-assessed-development/majors/major_projects/majors/mount_lofty_golf_estate_and_resort

LOCAL RESIDENTS HAVE MAJOR CONCERNS

• Pollution of the Watershed Zone

Due to increasing demands for water resources and a decline in the quality of River Murray water, the importance of the quality and security of the water in the watershed is now being realised. https://www.epa.sa.gov.au/

There is no SA water report included in this Development Report nor a response from SA Water regarding the development and future risk to local water ways as a result of this $87M development.

Appendix M, Page 32

No specific water quality investigations have been undertaken as it is not known at this early planning stage if any construction works will impact upon any waterways. Further investigation into potential water quality impacts should be undertaken as part of the detailed design process.

CHANGE - scale back the design so it does not adversely effect local water ways. 

• Impact on Nocturnal Fauna

Many nocturnal species have adapted to use the cover of natural darkness to their advantage. They use it to carry out important activities, like breeding, foraging and migrating.

When we introduce artificial light into their environment, it can disrupt their behaviours. This can negatively affect their health. https://www.dcceew.gov.au/

Currently there is no lighting plan included in the Development Report. Any form of lighting is going to impact local residents and nocturnal wildlife. Currently there is limited light pollution in the area. Any lighting to the course or hotel, based on its current size, would be detrimental and not sympathetic to the area.

CHANGE - limit lighting to make it sympathetic to the environment and not cause issues with the local fauna. 

• Impact on Koalas

Loss or fragmentation of habitat can have a negative impact on koala conservation and management. Koalas have a specialised, low-energy, low-nutrient diet. This means that they have a limited amount of energy available for travel between patches of preferred food trees. Loss of favoured trees or broader habitat across these various land types can lead to koalas becoming isolated in small pockets of trees surrounded by open areas or urban development. The removal of trees can cause stress to individual koalas and where koalas occur in over-abundant numbers, or they cannot naturally disperse into neighbouring habitat, they can damage their food trees through over-browsing.

https://cdn.environment.sa.gov.au/environment/docs/koala-conservation-and-management-strategy-gen.pdf

The Development Report outlines plans to remove  trees and plant life within 35 metres of any building. This removes a high
portion of the existing vegetation. Altering the landscape and therefore views of local residents, flora and fauna.

Appendix G outlines tree removal including trees that have a High Retention Rating, however their removal has been deemed as required as part of the bushfire mitigation requirements.

CHANGE - cease the plan to remove significant trees deemed healthy and vegetation en mass. Design a plan sympathetic to the surrounding  environment.

• Impact on the Local Infrastructure

Commercial development near residential areas should not impact the amenity of the residents and points of entrance and exit should be located so that the number of vehicles using nearby residential roads is kept to a minimum. http://www.dit.sa.gov.au

The current Stirling Golf Club has 5 double motel rooms, the Development Plan outlines the construction of a hotel building and private retreats (pods) (105 rooms in total). This will significantly change the use of Golflinks Road and will have changed the volume of traffic on the local roads.

CHANGE - main access to come off Carey Gully road, not Golflinks Road.

• General Environmental Impact

With its unique landscape and rich biodiversity, the Adelaide Hills encompasses a highly valued natural environment with an important responsibility to ensure its sustainability for all species. https://www.ahc.sa.gov.au/environment

Appendix M, Page 9

The environmental impacts will be due to removal of native vegetation, including possibly threatened species and ecological communities and significant construction which has the potential to impact native fauna and associated habitat. There is also the potential that there will be impact to the conservation values of the Mount George Conservation Park (MGCP). Additionally, there will be potential impacts on the integrity and geomorphology of the watercourse and surface water storage structures (i.e., dam or lake and on downstream flows).

CHANGE - scale back the design so it does not damage the environment.

• Lack of Community Consultation

The local community surrounding The Stirling Golf Club have not been consulted prior to the lodging of this Development Application.

Appendix M, Page 13

Community Consultation and Engagement is critical for the project as the State’s economy and Adelaide Hills Community will likely be impacted during construction and operation which may result in immediate and long-term effects on residents, businesses and surrounding uses. 

CHANGE - local residents refute that developers have comprehensively consulted the local residents. Listen to our concerns.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT