Video: New look for Point Lonsdale golf club’s major redevelopment

The Point Lonsdale club has reworked the proposed layout of its sandbelt course and new clubhouse after ­striking a deal to buy adjacent farmland to the south of Gill Rd.

Having sold 29 housing blocks and developed almost half of its 100-lot estate, the club’s executive is optimistic about progressing the new golf facilities. This includes a redeveloped 18-hole golf course, a new ­clubhouse overlooking the lake and a new maintenance facility.

The club will unveil its modified plans at a public forum on Thursday.

After first revealing the project in 2002, the drawn-out pursuit of the redevelopment has impacted on the club’s ­finances and its membership.

However, after a decade of decline, president John ­Christophersen said memberships numbers had grown over the past quarter by 35.

“The club is now in the ­enviable position of having ­significant funds in the bank as it carefully manages its way through the redevelopment project,” he said.

Mr Christophersen said the housing development, which was worth potentially $50 million, would generate enough income to also regenerate the land and set up a future fund.

“The (fund’s) income will help support the ongoing ­operational costs of the club,” he said.

The new plan uses a much smaller amount of additional land, with areas to the north (Emily St) and west (to the south of Lake Victoria) now no longer included. That means approved development in the wetlands – which was opposed by ­environmental groups amid concerns of habitat erosion and potential pollution – isn’t being pursued.

Significant habitat, particularly identified sites for the ­endangered orange-bellied parrot, will remain ­untouched.

Mr Christophersen, who was elected president last ­December, said construction of the golf facilities was reliant on housing sales but he was hopeful of development in the next few years.

“It would be wonderful for the club to be able to celebrate its centenary in 2022 in a new clubhouse, on a redeveloped golf course overlooking Lake Victoria,” he said.

He forecast that local businesses would receive the vast majority of the building work.

“On top of this is the ­employment generated by the construction of a significant number of new homes,” Mr Christophersen said.

Source: Geelong Advertiser