UPDATE: Golfers at Helensvale Golf Club locked out after club goes into liquidation
UPDATE:
From William Owen-Jones
Councillor for Division 2
Following the appointment of a liquidator to the leaseholder for Helensvale golf Club on 23 March 2018, the City has been advises that the liquidator does not intend to reopen the course for trading.
Accordingly to the City has arranged temporary access for the following basic maintenance action to keep the site in a holding pattern.
1.One of Council’s existing contractors has been engaged to mow existing fairways and rough to 50/100mm (including residential properties).
2.Maintain tees and greens and bunkers to be trimmed and keep weed free.
3.Water bodies will be trimmed around perimeter.
Please be aware, this basic maintenance will not enable play to resume, however it will help mitigate the cost involved in returning the course to operations should suitable operator be identified in the short term.
In the interim, the site is to be secured by way of monitoring patrols, fencing and bollards as necessary to prevent unauthorised access to the course, as well as to limit any damage to the improvements. Over the coming weeks the City will:
1.Resolve with the liquidator outstanding matters;
2.Complete a thorough review of infrastructure (i.e buildings and irrigation system).
3.Commence an EOI process for a suitable golf course operator and submit a report to the Council for consideration (April/May).
In 2014 the former membership based club resolved to assign to Jigsaw the balance of the lease term as well as all of the club’s plant and equipment (and the club’s liabilities). Our understanding is the Jigsaw had lease arrangements in place over the golf carts and mowers. It will be the responsibility of the liquidator to determine how these assets are sold.
My preference is for the golf to continue to be played on the course as it has been a central part if the Helensvale suburb since 1976, however the ultimate decision regarding the appointment of a suitable operator will rest with the full Council.
THE future of a popular Gold Coast golf club with a “chequered past” remains uncertain after liquidators changed the locks and turned members away today.
The Helensvale Community Golf Club — which is owned by the Gold Coast City Council — has ceased operating after its leaseholder, Jigsaw Community Services, went into liquidation.
Jigsaw Community Services chairman John Atkinson said in a statement to The Gold Coast Bulletin the club was no longer financially viable to remain open.
“Certainly, it had been our intention to remain until the expiry of our lease in 2019,” Mr Atkinson said.
“However, because from a financial perspective the club was no longer viable, I had no other option open to me but to terminate operations.”
Late last yearthe following General Business item was passed unanimously regarding the future of the Helensvale Community Golf Club:
1. That Jigsaw continues operation of the Helensvale Community Golf Club site until 30th June 2019, as per the current lease agreement.
2. That the land continues to operate as a golf course facility and there be no further investigations into potential future alternate uses.
3. In preparation for the conclusion of the current lease arrangement, that planning for a tender process commence to seek an entity for the ongoing management of the golf course and associated facilities.
4. That the Gold Coast District Golf Association be informed of Council’s decision.
Councillor William Owen-Jones posted on his Facebook page last year: “My thanks to the representatives from the Gold Coast District Golf Association, the PGA and players who met with the Mayor, Cr Vorster and myself yesterday and voiced strongly their position regarding the need to keep the course open,”
“Since the initial council decision there has been clear support for golf to continue to be played on this City owned facility,”
“It’s was indeed very pleasing to see this matter resolved positively.”
The land has previously been mooted by council as a potential new home for the Gold Coast Show, The Queens Park Tennis Club and a pony club.
Division 2 Councillor William Owen-Jones, who fought for the land to remain a golf club, said any future plans for the land will now become “a decision for council”.
“We’ll need to wait for the liquidators to contact us before we move forward,” Cr Owen-Jones said.
“Already today we have had several people reach out to help keep golf in Helensvale.
“The ideal outcome is that the golf course remains in the heart of Helensvale. That has been a very difficult thing to achieve over the years.”
Club captain Jake O’Donnell, who has been a member at Helensvale for 34 years, said the closure will affect many locals and members alike.
“It’s a sad moment to see the club closed,” Mr O’Donnell said.
“I’ve spoken with a number of members and they are all pretty upset.
“Hopefully the council can sort this out and the club can open back up again but for now it is closed and that is all we know.”
Source: GC Bulletin
