Golfers of the Shellharbour/Illawarra region (We) object to proposed development DA0302/2022 of Calderwood Valley Golf Course

The local golf community of Shellharbour, Illawarra and others from further afield who travel to Calderwood Golf Course object to the proposed development of this site, and believe it should remain as an 18-hole golf course for community recreational use, the heritage importance to the social golf community and conservation of the land for present and future use.

We are concerned with the amount of development that will occur
over the next few decades and believe that the 18-hole golf course will be even more important to future generations. As the population grows and pressure on recreational areas increases in the future it will be significantly important now that the council reject the scope of the development application. The preservation of this site for recreational use and the benefits it will have on the future communities physical and mental health cannot be understated.

The Calderwood Golf Course has been held in high regard by numerous social golfer’s and social golf clubs for the past 27 years. During this time, it has developed some heritage importance within the social golfing community of the Illawarra. The golf course has been enjoyed by multiple generations amongst family members and should be preserved so that it can continue. Golf is a sport that can be played from childhood through to advanced age, and provides shared enjoyment amongst all ages of the community.

The land that the 18-hole golf course occupies should be conserved. With the population growth expected, an 18-golf course will be significantly important to the adolescent youth that are yet to grow up in the Calderwood area. The golf course will provide entertainment to occupy young minds and bodies. Having such a facility would provide youth other options than delinquency.

We are not opposed to the owners of Calderwood Valley Golf Club developing the site. We understand that the owners purchased the golf club with the view of getting a return on their investment. It is the amount of development that is of concern and the proposal to reduce the golf course from 18 holes to 9 holes. We also fear that the reduction of the course to 9 holes may well be just the start and eventual reduction to zero holes and a further residential/caravan park development. The area of proposed development being the higher areas creates the potential risk of pollutants contaminating the creek and lower lying areas.

From when the site was first developed as a golf course in 1995, it has been a success story as a commercial venture that has provided a valuable recreational use for the community. We are concerned the size of the proposed development is not in the best interest of the community. The Calderwood Valley Golf Course was approved as a golf course and should remain in large a golf course. If it were the current owner’s intent to fully develop the site as a caravan park it should have purchased land that is not a high use community golf course. The Shellharbour Council should not allow this development to proceed.

We believe that the investors be granted approval to develop the land not incorporating the existing 18-hole golf course. The development of land not incorporating the existing 18 holes would provide the investors with a greater return on their investment than just owning a golf course. It would also be beneficial in providing tourist accommodation and a boost to the local economy.

We reject any argument from the council that the Shellharbour Municipality already has the ‘Links Golf Course’ at Shell Cove, and that social players have the option of playing there or other golf courses within the Illawarra. We acknowledge that some members of our social golf club are also members of other golf courses within the area. But for some social golfers Calderwood Valley Golf Course is the only affordable option for the working class and retirees to play golf. You cannot compare the ‘Links’ with Calderwood Valley Golf Course, the latter is more manageable for older players and important to their physical and mental health. With approximately 1000 players a week at Calderwood, The Links does not have capacity to accommodate even a moderate percentage of that as they are currently heavily booked, and memberships are simply not available to due current demand. 

The increase in residential development and subsequent population increase that is likely to occur over the next 10 to 30 years will put pressure on the golf course accessibility and golf affordability. The Illawarra cannot afford to lose this golf course and it should be preserved for community use. It would be a tragedy if the council approves this development and fails to preserve the current 18 holes of golf for the use of future generations.

We urge you to sign this petition on behalf of all golfers who appreciate the need for these sorts of facilities amongst the endless urban sprawl.