Fair way from secure
Rosny golf course still in limbo
THE future of the Rosny Park Public Golf Course is in limbo after the Clarence Council reached an impasse at its meeting on Monday, but supporters are still holding out hope.
Clarence City Council general manager Ian Nelson released a report into the tender process for the management of the golf course, revealing new estimates it would cost between $150,000 and $200,000 to operate the course on an interim basis.
In his report, Mr Nelson recommended the site be maintained as a public green space within the limitations of the budget, with $50,000 for mowing.
An alternative motion was put forward by alderman Luke Edmunds, who moved council continue to maintain the Rosny golf course greens to an adequate standard until a new operator was found. Both were lost 6-6. “Some people might consider golf’s days at the course are numbered, but I don’t think golf is dead yet,” Mr Edmunds said on Monday.
But several alderman disagreed.
“This has run its course,” alderman Dean Ewington said on Monday.
“If there was someone out there that was going to operate this course, we would have found them and we haven’t.”
On Thursday, Mayor Doug Chipman said for golf to continue at the site an operator would need to step in and it would need to be financially viable.
“If somebody came along with an organisation and had the resources to run it, council would certainly be open to that,” Mr Chipman said
“The general manager’s authorised to keep looking after the golf course by doing the mowing, but he doesn’t have a budget to maintain the greens.”
But with six other golf courses in the Clarence area, and two more under construction, he said it was difficult to understand if more ratepayers’ money should be used.
“The real question is, do we use more of ratepayers’ money to subsidise golf at the site when there are six others in Clarence,” Mr Chipman said.
“Some of those courses are open to the public. I think there is good prospect for the future of golf in some form as part of the city heart project.”
Former golf club member Pat McMahon hopes it will not be the end for the Rosny Park Public Golf Course.
“Golf was played there since 1916, it’s the first site in Tasmania to be given the royal charter,” Mr McMahon said.
“This golf course is unique, there’s nothing like this.
“We’re so lucky to have this 6km from the CBD.”
He said it would be a loss on a number of levels.
“As ratepayers, we’ve lost a sporting facility, we’ve lost the only golf course you can catch public transport to,” he said.
“It was affordable to play, the private clubs, they’ll let you play, but it’s expensive.
“We’ve really lost a grassroots sporting facility.”