Newcastle Golf Club Receives Development Consent for Retirement Village
Newcastle Golf Club and Principle Living are pleased to announce that development consent has now been granted by the Hunter and Central Coast Regional Planning Panel for a substantial retirement village on the Club’s land at Fern Bay.
The proposed village involves 172 independent living units and associated infrastructure. This development consent follows on from a development consent granted in 2023 for course improvement works at the Club’s golf course to create a site for the proposed retirement village.
The Club’s President, Alan McKelvey said:
“The grant of the development consent for the retirement village is the final hurdle for the Club’s development project and will now allow us to commence work to deliver the much-anticipated golf course improvement works under the guidance of course architects, Harrison Golf. This is the culmination of 10 years of careful planning.”
“We are now at a point where the Club can make its great golf course even better. The course will be amongst the very best regional courses in Australia, and is sure to attract attention locally, nationally, and internationally. The work required to complete the golf course improvement works is currently out to tender and we look forward to getting started on bringing Harrison Golf’s plans to life in May or June this year (subject to contractor availability).”
“The works are anticipated to take about 2 years to complete. Because of the nature of the changes, the works will involve limited disruption to normal play, and 18 holes will remain open during the construction work. The Club is really excited to get started, and we are looking forward to seeing how good the course will be following completion of the works.”
Chris Old, on behalf of Principle Living, said:
“Obtaining development consent for our Newcastle Golf Club retirement village project is a major milestone for Principle Living. The village will be Principle Living’s flagship retirement community and will provide premium retirement living for retirees alongside a top tier golf course.”
“We are very excited to be working with the Club to deliver the project and create a vibrant community for our new residents, with a range of beautifully designed golf homes and units. We expect to start construction of the project in mid-2027, and will start to market the project shortly, now the necessary approvals have been obtained.”
The golf course improvements, designed by renowned architect Harrison Golf, will position Newcastle among Australia’s best regional courses, attracting attention from golfers locally and internationally.
Features of the development include:
- Course renovations featuring seven new holes in sandy terrain
- Limited disruption to play during the two-year construction period
- Premium retirement accommodations with golf course views
- A vibrant community setting for active seniors
- Beautiful golf homes and units with thoughtful design elements
Golf Course Architect Bob Harrison, who has fond memories of the course since his university days, was excited by the prospect of producing a redesigned stretch of holes on a footprint ideally suited to the sport.
“With seven new holes in sandy ground, and the remodelling of the remaining holes, we hope to move Newcastle to Australia’s top ten.”
Chris Old, from Principal Living, said the development was significant for the organisation, and a refreshingly different senior living option in the Greater Newcastle region.
“The village will be Principle Living’s flagship retirement community, providing premium retirement living for retirees alongside a top tier golf course.”
The golf course improvement works are currently out to tender, with construction anticipated to take approximately two years, with 18 holes of play throughout the process. Construction on the retirement village is expected to begin in mid-20
