$30 Million Sandy Creek Resort Approved After 11-Year Planning Battle
After 11 years of planning setbacks, full development approval has been granted for the multi-million dollar Sandy Creek Resort, set to transform an empty patch of land adjoining the Sandy Creek Golf Club car park. Scheduled for completion in 2028, the $30 million project will feature 73 rooms, a restaurant, a swimming pool, and conference facilities.
The development aims to create dozens of local jobs, expand accommodation options, and position the precinct as an international five-star destination within the world-renowned Barossa Wine region.
Developer Sets Sights on Regional Growth
Developer Neville Roberts, a local Australian rules football legend who has swapped the oval for the fairway, views the project as a critical addition to the regional tourism infrastructure.
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“I think it’s a spectacular resort in terms of exactly what the Barossa needs at exactly the right time,” Roberts said. “Opportunity for the area, uh, opportunity that isn’t there at the moment.”
Drawing parallels between his previous athletic career and commercial property development, Roberts added: “Football and life are pretty similar and as a developer, you know, we’re always chasing the next deal and um and and and football, you’re always chasing that sort of success.” |
Overcoming Years of Regulatory Knockbacks
The approval follows a long regulatory history marked by repeated rejections. The proposal faced years of knockbacks, progressing from an initial failed council application to reviews across three different government assessment panels.
A court battle eventually secured a compromise to push the development forward, though it came at the cost of scaling back the footprint and removing 23 rooms from the original design plan.
Reflecting on the grueling approval process, Roberts addressed whether the prolonged fight was justified: “A lot of people close to me asked me that, but I’ve always had a philosophy. I’d rather die than lose.”
Golf Club Operations to Continue Uninterrupted
In a statement shared regarding the land adjoining its car park, Sandy Creek Golf Club clarified its position on the project and confirmed that day-to-day operations will remain unaffected during construction.
“This is a significant milestone for the precinct and represents a positive step toward future growth and increased activity in our region,” the Club stated. “At this stage, there is no impact to golf course access, club operations, or upcoming events. Everything at Sandy Creek Golf Club will continue as normal.”
The Club further noted: “The Club has no role in the actual development, but as the project progresses, we will be liaising regularly with the developer to ensure we receive clear and timely updates.”
Construction Phase Ahead
With full development approval secured, the project transitions to its next operational phase. Neville Roberts confirmed that the primary challenge moving forward is finding a builder to take on the mammoth project ahead of its target 2028 opening.
