Federal Golf Club has submitted a development application for its long-expected and controversial retirement village on six hectares at the southern end of the Red Hill course.
The $103 million Mbark proposal will comprise 125 dwellings, including 77 single-storey houses and 48 apartments across six three-storey buildings, and a health and wellbeing centre for residents.
The project will also require a new access road from Kitchener Street in Garran.
The club says it will maintain 18 holes on the course during the development.
Two other DAs have been lodged – one to subdivide the block and de-concessionalise the village site, and the other for reconfiguring the course, which will be done concurrently.
The club has long argued that the development will secure its water supply and long-term financial future.
But opponents say the proposal is environmentally irresponsible and unnecessary.
An overview of the development, access road and landscaping. Image: Oculus.
The DA says the retirement village will not impact neighbouring homes with large setbacks greater than the required minimum of 50 metres to prevent noise or overshadowing and also allow wildlife and amenity buffers.
A total of 358 trees will need to be removed, including 109 of a regulated size requiring approval from the Tree Protection Unit. Five are hollow-bearing trees, and three are potential remnants. But the club says it will undertake a tree replacement program as required, and a large stand of trees, including some that are hollow bearing, is to be retained as part of a secondary park outside of the health and wellbeing centre.
Comment on the DAs is open until 8 March.
