Shire Unanimously Backs $27 Million Pinjarra Golf Club Redevelopment

POSTED ON November 10, 2026 @ 12:31 pm

Mini-golf could be coming to the Pinjarra Golf Club. (Credit: pinjarragolf.com.au/cms)

The Shire of Murray council voted unanimously at its Oct. 22 meeting to support a proposed $26.984 million redevelopment of the Pinjarra Golf Club. The decision backing the project includes funding commitments, municipal loan guarantees, and reallocated project reserves to assist the club in securing external federal grants.

Pinjarra Golf Club Master Plan and Financing Structure

The Pinjarra Golf Club is seeking $2 million from the Federal Government’s Thriving Suburbs Program to fund key elements of the development: a $1 million mini-golf facility and a $3 million driving range.

To support the grant application, the shire agreed to provide the club with a $1.1 million self-supporting loan. The council is also reallocating municipal funds from other capital accounts:

$65,000 from the community storage shed project at Sir Ross McLarty Oval
$96,166 from the Edenvale revitalisation project
$84,544 from the South Yunderup Oval lights project
$112,018 from the asset enhancement reserve

Funds previously allocated to the oval lights project through the Alcoa/shire community partnership fund will be redirected to the shed and Edenvale projects. A council report noted that the lights project was “indefinitely delayed” due to land availability issues, though it remains a local priority.

Conditions attached to the shire’s $1.1 million loan require the golf club to contribute $400,000 of its own funds and submit monthly financial statements dating back to January 2025, alongside audited financial statements from the past three years.

Contingency financial models were also established:

If the Thriving Suburbs Program grants $500,000 for the mini-golf project, the club will contribute $200,000 and the shire will provide $300,000.
If no federal grant funding is secured, the shire will issue an additional $500,000 self-supporting loan under similar risk-mitigation terms.

Prior to this vote, the shire spent $50,000 in 2023 on a master plan for the club and $119,300 in 2025 for urgent safety and building upgrades. The club has spent approximately $230,000 on early works to date, including two new greens, a simulator, and a netted warm-up facility.

Projected Economic Impact of Golf Club Features

Established in 1912, the Pinjarra Golf Club hosts regional events, including the Men’s and Women’s Amateur Open and the WA 2-Ball Ambrose Championships.

A master plan finalized this year outlines a 1,200-square-metre mini-golf course located within an entertainment precinct on Pinjarra Road, situated adjacent to the planned clubhouse. A feasibility study recommended an 18-hole mini-golf layout combined with hospitality amenities to attract families and non-traditional golfers, increase food and beverage sales, and diversify the venue’s revenue streams.

A concept plan for the Pinjarra Golf Club redevelopment. (Credit: Supplied)

A business case for the facility estimates:

First-year volume: 20,000 rounds of mini-golf.
Average spend: $24 per person across golf, food, and beverages.
Annual net profit: Projected growth between $299,000 and $426,000 per year.

A council report stated the mini-golf course and driving range would serve as a regional attraction to draw visitors to Pinjarra, providing “a stronger financial base for the club and assist in funds being generated to put towards the future Pinjarra Golf Club clubhouse redevelopment.”

Food Innovation Precinct Expansion

In a separate decision, the council approved a $4.05 million contribution to support an $8.1 million construction project for five food factory units at the regional Food Innovation Precinct. The precinct is applying for a $4 million grant through the federal Thriving Suburbs Program.

According to the council report, manufacturing capacity at the site is constrained. Tenant Spinifex Brewing expanded its output from 150,000 liters to more than 440,000 liters over a 12-month period. The report highlighted that several businesses “have outgrown it and have nowhere in the region to go,” while private developers have shown no interest in constructing the required units, leaving the project outside the shire’s standalone capacity.

An artist’s impression of the proposed units. (Credit: Supplied)

The financial model projects that allocating $1.12 million to $2.67 million to the build will increase the precinct’s property asset value by $5 million to $10 million. The expansion is expected to generate $550,000 annually, which will grow over time and be utilized to service loans for the planned Murray library and community hub.

Council Commentary

Elected members voiced support for the combined infrastructure initiatives during the meeting.

Cr Rob Cashman emphasized balancing municipal oversight with long-term growth objectives:

“Of course, we must protect ratepayers’ money, ensure appropriate financial safeguards are in place, and balance these projects against our other community priorities. We also need to be ambitious about the Shire of Murray’s future. If we can leverage external funding to create jobs, attract investment, and build a stronger local economy, we owe it to our community to seriously pursue these opportunities.”

Cr Stewart Carter highlighted the fiscal risk controls built into the motions:

“By supporting this proposal, the shire will be well-positioned to assist both the Pinjarra Golf Club and Future Foods facility in seeking additional grant funding. Furthermore, the motion incorporates measures designed to mitigate financial risk and protect the shire’s interest.”

Source: PerthNow