Pokies and bottleshop proposed to help Shell Cove golf course get back on its feet

A meeting of Shellharbour Council has voted to sell off a section of The Links Shell Cove Golf Course to help fund it’s future operations.

The land will be sold as housing blocks with the money to go into a fund that can be drawn on to help pay for poker machines and a drive through bottleshop.

Councillor Peter Moran says the move goes against an earlier pledge to sell assets to pay for ongoing council operations.

“So we are looking at selling assets in order to fund ongoing operational costs and we’re also looking to increase alcohol and gambling in the community in order to try and ensure we can continue to provide subsidised golf to middle class relatively well off males,” he said.

Councillor Moran says it’s sending the wrong message.

“I don’t think it’s council’s role to increase alcohol consumption in the community,” he said.

Shellharbour’s mayor Marianne Saliba says the plan will give scope to the general manager to make business decisions to further improve the golf course and the operation of the club house at Shell Cove.

“What we are doing is giving the general manager the ability to more forward with the business plan and also to start implementing some of those things that can be implemented to improve the business,” she said.

Councillor Saliba says if the council is going to continue to own the golf course and club house it has to generate a financial return.

“Now its a sports facility that we are providing, an opportunity for our ratepayers and our residents and we want to ensure it is viable into the future,” she said.

Councillors Peter Moran and Helen Stewart voted against the plan.

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Related: Shell Cove Links will remain under council management