Council’s hole in one.

By Danielle Galvin
CARDINIA Shire Council has been accused of a swing and a miss over the proposed purchase of the Beaconhills Golf Club.
The council received 23 written submissions in response to the proposal to buy the Stoney Creek Road property. Most of the submissions were received from members of the club, thrilled that the council would save the “jewel” of Upper Beaconsfield but others expressed their disappointment with the buy-back.
Cockatoo’s Ian Robins spoke at a special council meeting on Monday night and said that he didn’t believe the council was responsible for the bail-out of the Beaconhills Golf Club.
“The debt is the result of past actions and inactions of the board and administrators of the club,” he said in his submission.
“Responsibility to address the situation rests with the current board and administration of the club – not the Cardinia Shire Council.”
At a special council meeting on 23 May, councillors carried a motion to consider purchasing the 107-hectare Stoney Creek Road property.
At the time, Mayor Ed Chatwin said the purchase would be a win-win for the community.
“This shire will double in the next 15-20 years and has got to have some outlets,” he said.
“(Here is) 107 hectares of possible development. It’s a great addition to our asset base.”
But Mr Robins said ratepayers should not be required to fund the bail-out of the club.
“Council should only entertain projects which are its responsibility and can be shown to meet the needs and priorities of the community,” he said.
“Beaconhills Golf Club is a private club established by and for the members for purposes related to playing golf.”
Other residents weighed in on the proposal and came out in support of the buyback.
In his written submission, Brad Crowley said the facility was an asset to the community. He has been a member of the club for 26 years.
“At 40 years of age, the club has been a huge part of my entire adult life and I am ectastic to support the approval to sell the golf club’s land to the council and lease it back for the next 50 years,” he said.
Megan Rann, who lives in Upper Beaconsfield, said her young family regularly attended social functions at the club.
“The club is truly the social hub of the Upper Beaconsfield,” she said in her submission.
“When you live in a place, it is sometimes hard to convey to an outsider how important a certain venue is to the local community.
“But the golf club is the axis on which Upper Beaconsfield revolves and to lose it would be almost the beginning of the end of our suburb.”
Graham Jolly questioned why members of the club were happy with the sale of the property and said that the proposal was not in the best interest of the ratepayers.
“I think the jewel is worth fighting for,” he said.
“The 12 July 2012 will be the saddest day in the history of a very old golf club and for the community of Upper Beaconsfield.”
A special council meeting will be held on Monday 2 July at 6.45pm to consider the submissions received and the proposal to purchase the property, grant a lease of the property to the club and grant the club the option to purchase it back.