Fairbairn Golf Club Faces Uncertain Future Following Defence Sell-Off Announcement
Members of the Fairbairn Golf Club are reeling after the Department of Defence listed the 65-hectare course as one of 68 properties slated for sale, despite the club signing a five-year lease just last July.
Established in the 1960s on a former RAAF base, the course sits adjacent to Canberra Airport. Club president Brian Depree described the announcement as coming “out of the blue.”
“We were certainly shocked,” Mr. Depree said. “It came out of the blue.”
Key Obstacles to Development
While the site is a prime candidate for expansion, several factors complicate a potential sale:
- PFAS Contamination: Low levels of firefighting foam chemicals have been detected in the soil near the course boundaries.
- Safety Buffers: The land currently serves as a “green buffer” between a live-fire range and residential areas.
- Lease Clauses: While a five-year lease is in place, it contains an “exceptional circumstances” clause that Defence could invoke.
Potential Suitors and Land Use
The Canberra Airport Group has expressed interest, with Head of Property Richard Snow calling the sale an “obvious opportunity,” though he remains cautious regarding restrictions.
Current zoning and proximity to flight paths suggest the land is unsuitable for housing. Ashlee Berry of the Property Council ACT suggested the site’s best use would be boosting industrial and commercial land supply for warehousing and logistics.
Impact on Members
The club, which boasts 882 members and is known for offering the “cheapest game in Canberra,” has put its 10-year development plan on hold. Mr. Depree is scheduled to meet with Defence officials this Tuesday to seek clarity on the timeline and the sudden shift in strategy.
For now, Mr. Depree has advised members it is “business as usual,” noting that “Defence is historically slow” and the land may not be as attractive to developers as other sites on the list.
