No golf in new plan for Arundel
THE new lessee of an aban- doned Gold Coast country club has unveiled plans to transform the derelict site into a wellness and lifestyle retreat – but no golf course.
Real Commercial Qld director Joseph Codianni has leased the former Arundel Hills Country Club buildings, including club house and workshop sheds, to Guardian Eco Group.
The group’s spokesman Aaron Gonzalves said the clubhouse would be converted into a “unique” wellness centre.
“Essentially what we are trying to do is create a lifestyle centre that is going to be able to give Gold Coasters an experience – a space where people can escape from the city as well as cultivate the wellness and lifestyle they seek,” Mr Gonzalves said.
The tenant will also hire out the premises for functions, weddings, birthday parties and conferences.
Mr Gonzalves said the property’s green spaces would be retained, but there were no plans to keep the golf course.
“We know there is a massive kangaroo population and creating a kangaroo sanctuary is something we are looking at, as well as working with ecological groups to utilise the space,” he said.
“There have been country clubs and golf courses for a long time and I think that demographic is changing with the younger crowds (coming through).
“There are new needs and new things people are wanting to experience.
“I think surrounding residents will love the space and they are all invited to see it when it is open.
“They will be pleased to know it is not going to be a whole block of houses.”
More detailed plans for the property were expected to be released in the coming months. Mr Codianni said the tenant had signed a lease from December 2022 until March 16, 2023 with the current site owner, Zhongsheng Group.
Prospective developers Dale Carroll, Steven Kleytman and Andrew Barbayannis are in the process of buying the 67ha site at Arundel Place.
“Once settlement is completed in March the new owners will form a fresh lease agreement with the current tenant for a period of time suitable to both Codianni said.
“Once the settlement is finalised, I would suspect the new owners will make a further announcement in time regarding their vision for the property.”
The once prestigious Arundel Hills Country Club collapsed in May last year with debts of up to $5.73m.
The site sat mostly vacant until November, when it was used as the backdrop for a Supercheap Auto TV ad called Country Club Chaos. parties,” Mr
Vandals and thieves also stripped the property of copper pipes from the water system, air conditioning and gas lines costing more than $50,000 to repair and replace.
Mr Codianni said there was still demand for quality golf courses on the Gold Coast, with four international buyers currently looking to buy operational sites.
Any collaborators interested in using spaces within the Arundel Place site can contact pr@guardianecogroup.com for more information.