Club to play new round
THE Helensvale golf club is back on course with councillors agreeing to find a new operator.
The Bulletin reported in late March that the future of the council-owned golf club remained uncertain after its leaseholder, Jigsaw Community Services, went into liquidation.
Liquidators changed locks at the 40-year-old club as golfers were turned away, but council has continued to maintain the greens and course.
Area councillor William Owen-Jones, who has fought for the land to remain a golf club, undertook a letter-box drop to keep residents informed and discovered strong support for the community club.
He was among the councillors who discussed the item in closed session yesterday at a meeting of the lifestyle and community committee at council’s Evandale chambers.
A committee recommendation moved by chair Hermann Vorster and seconded by Acting Mayor Donna Gates was carried and calls for a tender to be progressed for the lease of the course and its facilities based on an officer’s report.
The council is to investigate opportunities “to minimise maintenance costs at the site through partnerships in the interim”.
Outside the meeting, Cr Owen-Jones said the committee’s recommendation would be considered by full council on Monday and support by all councillors would see officers launching a procurement program for a new operator.
“So within the next two weeks it is hoped that there will be a public notice as well as the parties that have already contacted the city will be notified,” he said.
The tender process would determine the operator with council considering all options including commercial businesses and not-for-profit organisations.
“The decision of the committee is to go to the market to seek a new operator for golf. It’s a good outcome for the local residents and existing players if we’re able to find a satisfactory operator,” Cr Owen-Jones said.
“I would encourage any party interested to keep their eye out for the commencement of the procurement process.”
Cr Owen-Jones confirmed council had received approaches from interested parties which had been forwarded to city officers.
“All parties are going to be dealt with equally. The city has been doing basic maintenance on the course (since the liquidation),” he said.
“There are about 700 homes that are either on the course or streets adjacent to the course. There’s about 3000 homes in Helensvale.
“We have about 200 residents who have provided their email details to be kept informed at this stage. There is overwhelming support from the residential base for the course to reopen.”