If you were among the 878,000 Australians representing 4.2 per cent of the adult population who played golf at least once last year, it’s more likely you’ll be about 56 years old, according to the average age profile included in the game’s participation report for 2019 published last month. But you’re also more likely to be playing in Queensland, with the State leading the nation in club member growth, just ahead of South Australia, but all other states going backwards

Goondiwindi Golf Club manager Nicky Kruger has been watching numbers at his regional course soar since the first stirrings of the pandemic’s restrictions started to tighten in February. Appointed in late 2018 to revitalise the club, the South African golf professional was already on a path to expanding the facility’s sporting and social program when coronavirus lobbed in and fundamentally changed the trajectory of his business four hours south-west of Brisbane. 

New members since February have swelled 75 per cent, while competition rounds have exploded from 120 to more than 200 each week. Juniors have gone from six regulars to 18, while a program tailored towards getting more youngsters from surrounding Indigenous communities into the game is proving popular. And it’s all been achieved in a climate where some customer traffic from NSW, just over the Macintyre River, has been slowed during border closures. “We didn’t have to do much, the business just came to us – it’s been quite phenomenal,” Kruger said. 

Golf Australia’s Queensland manager Luke Bates said the resurgence has been interesting to observe, especially since Queensland golf courses were under the threat of closure when lockdown measures were being considered earlier in the year.

“There was this very nervous 24-hour period when golf club managers across the State thought they were going to have to close indefinitely,” Bates said.

“Thankfully the State Government turned that around but it was something of a blessing in disguise because it showed to club members what a life without golf could look like and I think ever since there’s been a kind of rejoicing in the game, with people taking whatever opportunity they can get to get out and play.

“It’s also the perfect game for social distancing. I mean, if you can’t keep your distance from other people on an 18-hole golf course there’s something seriously wrong.”

Whilst we have organised a Petition (It's not too late for you to sign it, Petition Forms available on this web site), individual letters and submissions carry more weight in the process of objecting to a Developer's plans.

Such letters and submissions will be received by Council once the Development Application has been lodged, which is now. Submissions must be lodged before 4th December 2019. Strictly speaking, emotional issues will not carry any weight. The more that your submission can be related back to the Cairns Plan and Planning issues the better.

When Council receives an individual submission from you, you will then have the advantage of automatically receiving all updates from Council as things happen and you will also have the right of appeal.

You can view the details of the developer's application on the Cairns Regional Council's web site by using the DA Reference number 9522/2019. Please note that the number showing on the Public Notices and signs of 8/30/277 is not relevant to the Council's web site..

You can write your own submission from scratch or you can use the Council submission form which is available to assist in lodging your submission. You can download and use the PDF version of the Council's submission form here:- Submission Against or For a Development Proposal.pdf

THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS MAY HELP YOU COMPLETE AN INDIVIDUAL SUBMISSION.

SOCIAL ASPECTS:

• What are the reasons you chose to buy or rent a property in a Paradise Palms precinct?
• Did you buy/rent your property on the understanding that the Resort and Golf Course at Paradise Palms was a major asset for Cairns Plan and FNQ Tourism and that it would be protected as the asset it is?  
• Do you believe that a change in land use and the development proposed will reduce the value of your property?
• How do you feel about the type of development being proposed in your back yard- 450 houses, a ‘high-end tourist resort similar to Coconut Tourist resort?
• Is security a factor that is important to you?
• Do you value the current resources available within the resort and golf course?
• If the development goes ahead would you expect compensation for the loss of value of your property and a significant buffer zone to separate your property from the houses and tourist resort?
• Do you think the Government would build a new school on the site Darren Halpin is allocating for that purpose?
• Do you think a Private School would be built?

COMMERCIAL ASPECTS 

• With all the current residential developments in the Northern Beaches, do you foresee that the golf course development could stall and the whole area become neglected and overgrown? 
• Do you believe that the resort and golf course could be managed successfully as a going concern as it was in the past if the management was changed?
• Do you think poor management is no justification for considering a change of land use?
• Do you think that a magnificent asset that was developed at great cost in the 1980’s and cannot be replaced should be lost to the local community, Australia and World?
• Do you think Paradise Palms is a major tourism attraction for Cairns?

ENVIRONMENTAL ASPECTS

• Do you value the diversity of trees, plants and green space provided by having a green space property of this size in the area?
• Do you notice the loss of green space in the Northern Beaches since you moved into the area?
• What impact will a proposed school, 450 houses, a tourist park and an Aged Care Facility, between them generating thousands of visitors a year, have on road usage and availability of utilities?
• Where will the wild life go now?
• How will the creeks cope with the changes to run off from an urban environment? 
• Will there be more downstream flooding?

Most property owners in the area were influenced in their choice of location by the existence of a world class leisure facility and green space

The entire population of local property owners really needs to act now! Join the Association, sign a Petition, write your own letter, make sure that everyone knows and understands the consequences. If you don’t act, there’s not much use complaining after the worst happens.

We encourage you to join the ranks of our Members.

A Membership Application Form and the Petition are on this web site.

Contact us by email at: 

info@saveparadisepalms.com.au 

with any questions or suggestions.

RELATED COVERAGE:

● Golf course development masterplan released

● North Lakes Golf Club to be sold, developed

● Planning minister visits to hear community concern over proposal

● Council won’t refuse application for development

It is proposing to build a retirement village and three-storey aged care facility on roughly 11ha of the site, with the remainder of the golf course land returned to the community, ie the council, for recreation use.

Last Month TVRG put forward to the community a proposal for the remainder of the site, called the North Lakes Common, incorporating sports fields, a community garden, indoor sports centre, adventure playground, events area with stage and more.

Guests at the Save North Lakes golf Course public meeting on Sunday, August 5. Picture: Matt Williamson

Though Mr Howarth is not buying into the vision.

“This propaganda brochure made no mention of who is going to pay for all the new fitness and community precincts,” he said.

“The people of North Lakes already pay a levy for the suburb and we want to make sure the council doesn’t increase this.”

When news of the development proposal first became known in July last year, Mr Howarth attended a peaceful protest by North Lakes residents.

“Since then, residents have continued to express their disgust at the thought of over development and congestion within their community if this project goes ahead,” he said.

“Whether you’re renting in North Lakes, or own your own home, this will have an affect on your lifestyle.

More than 100 people turned out at a peaceful protest on Sunday, November 25 against the sale of North Lakes Golf Course to a developer.

“The cost of wildlife displacement, the cost of overdevelopment and the more traffic on the roads which has already experience high congestion for people in NL.

“I want to be clear that I'm for development and progress but it needs to be done in line with the needs of the community and this project is not.”

There are still significant hurdles to overcome for the developer, not least the fact the area is listed as recreational open space under the Mango Hill Infrastructure Development Control Plan and a retirement village is considered a prohibited development on such land.

LUKE HOWARTH’S PARLIAMENT SPEECH IN FULL

I rise today to speak about a very topical issue in my electorate of Petrie, and that issue is the developing of the North Lakes Golf Course.

You only have to look at the map of North Lakes and Mango Hill to notice the large green space in which these suburbs are not only situated on but based around.

Many families have told me that their choice to purchase a home in North Lakes and Mango Hill was largely influenced by the 68ha of beautiful green golf course space which is available for families to enjoy in their own backyards.

It’s not just the golf course and the trees that grow there but the kangaroos, koalas, reptiles and amphibians that live on that golf course. and the swans on lake Eden.

sadly, part of this is all at risk because this golf course, while at the moment is the lungs of North Lakes, is at risk of being developed.

In 2018 this issues was brought to my attention and very quickly because a huge issue for locals.

More than 200 residents turned out to peacefully protest the development of this land in July last year. and since then residents have continued to express their disgust at the thought of over development and congestion within their community if this project goes ahead.

The Village Retirement Group is proposing to build a three-storey retirement home on roughly 11ha of the land in the middle of this green space.

And this isn’t just a few houses on a golf course.

The footprint of this development is equal to the size of North Lakes Westfield.

If locals looked at the recently distributed North Lakes common propaganda brochure and thought it looked too good to be true, that’s because it probably is.

The promise of parks, sporting fields, and a fitness precinct, on the remainder of the land comes at a price.

Whether you’re renting in NL or own your own home, this will have an affect on your lifestyle.

The cost of wildlife displacement, the cost of overdevelopment and the more traffic on the roads which has already experience high congestion for people in NL.

I want to be clear that im for development and progress but it needs to be done in line with the needs of the community and this project is not.

This propaganda brochure recently put made no mention of who is going to pay for all the new fitness and community precincts.

The people of North Lakes already pay a levy for North Lakes and we want to make sure the council doesn't increase this.

I say to the Moreton Bay councillors, listen to the people of Petrie and North Lakes and do not allow this golf course to be developed.

SURVEY OUTCOMES:

1. Cairns' green, tropical and protected environment is one of the most strongly held values in the community
2. The community wants their "future Cairns" to be recognised for being a green tropical region that values its natural assets, but with greater economic diversity and a reputation for being a smart region, with less reliance on tourism for its prosperity.
3. The environment, liveability and sustainability were the most important considerations to meet the community's regional needs now and into the future. However, at a very local level the community wanted Council to focus on safety, traffic and footpaths.
4. Issues of greatest importance varied across age. Youth were more concerned about sustainability and the environment, middle aged respondents were interested in liveability and environment, while seniors were more interested in safety and liveability

Redlynch Masterplan wins state award

From the CRC website, published: 04 Jun 2019

"Cairns Property Sales Real estate sales volumes have progressively shrunk during the last twelve months due to lower demand and more difficult finance conditions. The trend number of sales taking place in the March quarter of 2019 totalled 937, coming in 14.7% below the levels observed in the March quarter of 2018. The reduction taking place from the March quarter of 2018 to the March quarter of 2019 consisted of a 14.0% trend reduction in house sales, a 12.4% trend reduction in unit sales and a more massive trend 30.4% reduction in vacant land sales."  

The full Report is available at http://www.cairnswatch.com.au/uploads/uploads/201905property.pdf

Where is the market for all the product that is proposed for Paradise Palms? Are we going to see another massive failure and have to bear the consequences?

"We have today received advice that the Paradise Palms development application requires a s22A determination under the Vegetation Management Act prior to Council being able to accept an application.

This is a State Government approval process that is required prior to an application being able to be lodged with Council. Council plays no assessment role in this part of the process.

As such, we are yet to receive an application. I will advise once an application is received".

Holding Redlich, the Association's Town Planning Lawyers, prepared an extremely detailed submission to Council, requesting that Council give consideration to exercising their power to make a Temporary Local Planning Instrument, which would have implications now for ongoing Course maintenance and later for any Development Application which is lodged.

If you would like to know the full detail of our request and Council's Report in response please see the document links below.

2019.02.22 - TLPI Submission to CRC.PDF

Council Planning Officer's Report on TLPI request.pdf

The number of people adding their support through our Save Paradise Palms Petition to Cairns Regional Council is growing every day.

There are now in excess of 4,000 signatories who are supporting the Association's actions to stop this completely unsuitable development.

A big thank you to all of them and the volunteers who have taken an active role in making it happen.

Below is a reminder of what it was like

Below is the cart path on the old 7th Hole now

Below is the view of the old 7th Hole from the road. He should be ashamed and the big worry is that the rest of the course could end up looking like this

"The fauna diversity in the area, as listed in Appendices C to E, is particularly rich. For example, 159 bird species are known from the vicinity of Paradise Palms, which accounts for about one fifth of all bird species known from Australia. This high diversity is due to a combination of factors.  

Firstly, the location is within the Wet Tropics Bioregion, an area renowned for high biodiversity.

Secondly, the area has a good range of habitats in a relatively small area including: open forest, rainforest; vineforest; open grasslands; wetlands and urban areas.

Lastly, the forested areas of the golf course retain excellent connectivity between the coastal range and tableland to the west, and the coast to
the east. This allows many species to use the area as a migratory route or seasonal refuge"
 

There is major community concern about the loss of this outstanding amenity. There have been a number of public meetings held. A properly registered not for profit Association has been established and a Committee has been elected. It is known as Paradise Palms Resident’s Association Inc, trading as Save Paradise Palms.

A membership structure has been put in place and people are joining. Provision has been made for donations/Subscriptions to be received and a substantial fighting Fund has been raised already. Most of the 10 Body Corporates in the precinct have made substantial cash contributions.

Our approach to the problem is threefold:

1. Find a buyer who would continue to operate the golf course and return it to profitability
2. Employ Town Planning Consultants and specialist Town Planning Lawyers to fight any Material Change of Use or Development Application that may be lodged
3. Persuade Cairns Regional Council in conjunction with the State Government that there is a strong case for them to acquire the property as a Community asset. Precedent has been set for acquiring freehold property in order to stop development whilst preserving green space and Community amenity. Notable sites acquired include East Trinity, Earl Hill and Whitfield Hill

Ethical investing:

“A system of financial management or investment that seeks qualitative outcomes other than purely the management of returns. Outcomes sought may reflect ideas from faith, social, environmental and governance theories.”

In business, as in life, the real power always, without exception, lies with the person holding the purse strings.

Mr Halpin himself informed the Golf Club Members at a meeting that he had one principal Funder for his acquisition of the Golf Course and that person is Ken Chapman. Mr Halpin has identified himself as being a comparatively minor investor/shareholder.

Mr Chapman has enormous credibility in our area through his ownership of Skyrail. He is recognised for his achievements in the Tourism business nationally and internationally. It would be good to hear from Mr Chapman, as the holder of the ultimate power in this situation, what is his rationale for condoning a development which will result in the complete destruction of the existing Sport and Recreation Zoning and destroy this outstanding Community Asset, using money provided by him as principal Funder?

It is simply not good enough for him to throw his hands up and say he is just the Banker and has no role to play. Even if that were true, he must have an opinion, either for or against what Darren Halpin is proposing and the Community would like to hear that opinion

It is hard to believe that as the custodian of one of the regions’s most significant tourist assets, Mr Chapman seems prepared to be a part of the destruction of Paradise Palms.

As the principal Funder it seems likely that Mr Chapman has some form of mortgage security over the property and would be very unlikely to emerge as a loser, even if the whole pipe dream collapses. 

Having said that, the imminent closure of the Golf Course means the forfeiture of the 1500 Unit Development Approval, as that Approval is dependent on there being a functioning Golf Course. So the loss of this Approval, with no different Approvals to take its place in the medium term would dramatically reduce the value of the Mortgage Security.

The decision to close Paradise Palms Golf Course at the end of March would only make sense if somehow the Council, maybe in a pre-lodgement discussion, has already given a positive indication that a Residential and Commercial development would be approved at the expense of the rest of the Community. 

Are we missing something here or are the Funder, Ken Chapman and the Developer, Darren Halpin prepared to take a such a massive risk and destroy an irreplaceable Community Asset on the basis that he may get the approval he seeks? From the Developer's statements to date it appears so. 

September 12, 2015 

PARADISE Palms Resort and Country Club is to be restored to its former glory as part of a $550 million redevelopment of the 113ha site at Kewarra Beach.

Cairns businessman Darren Halpin and a group of southern investors are the new owners of the property regarded as one of the best golf courses in Australia.

It is believed they paid just $20 million for the property, which includes a three-level clubhouse, a resort and the 18-hole championship course as well as parcels of development land.

Mr Halpin told The Weekend Post its replacement cost was $120 million.

“This will be the biggest thing happening in Cairns in the next couple of years,” he said.

Paradise Palms was the jewel in Japanese corporate giant Daikyo’s crown in the tropical north in its 1990s heyday.

Now Mr Halpin and his silent Brisbane and Sydney shareholder partners plan to turn the venue into a place for locals and tourists “to be proud of”.

It had been in the hands of receivers for two years after the collapse of its former owners H&S Vision.

Mr Halpin said he would become a hands-on managing director splitting his time between Kewarra Beach and his Cairns CBD accountancy firm.

The search is on for a general manager and a food and beverage manager. The 80 current staff will be retained. with Mr Halpin describing them as “hard-working, loyal and enthusiastic”.

“The aim is to re-establish Paradise Palms as a Cairns icon and build about 800 units on surplus land,” he said.

“We are very excited about the future of Paradise Palms and what we believe we can achieve here.

“This is an under-utilised resource.

“Everyone is welcome. Just come and give us a go.”

Work already has started on upgrading the venue, with plans to spend $5 million on the clubhouse, carparks and course.

“We are starting to fix it up so it looks like someone owns it and cares about it,” Mr Halpin said.

The first phase of development is Orchid North with 585 units on the course’s driving range, estimated at $330 million, followed by Kingscliff, with 267 units on the seventh hole, worth about $150 million.

A third possibility is The Dunes.

The course will be reconfigured to take into account the loss of the driving range and the creation of a new seventh hole.

Work on Orchid North will start soon with road and earthworks, and construction of the first stage after next year’s wet season in March next year at the earliest.

Mr Halpin said it would depend upon the level of pre-sales to mainly Asian investors.

He said Evergreen Real Estate, which had almost sold the first stage of 74 units for the Golden Lakes project next to the Paradise Palms site, would be marketing the units, starting from about $370,000 (one-bedroom), $550,000 (two-bedroom) and $700,000 (three-bedroom).

He said the majority of the 940 golf club members were backing the new owners and the plans.

“We are ranked 48th in Australia and I would like to get in the top 20-25. We are also in the top 20 for stay and play,” Mr Halpin said.

“I would like to unlock the hidden gem that is here.

“I want to give the club its heart back and make it a red hot cracker.”

Mr Halpin said the bar, restaurant and resort would be markets to locals.

H&S Vision was placed in receivership in August 2013 with receivers McGrathNicol calling for expressions of interest for the site as well as other assets to recover a $52 million debt owed to the ANZ Bank.

The Halpin takeover took more than 12 months to finalise. It was sold by Colliers International Cairns.

Paradise Palms is an important rain water absorption area and its creeks already carry vast volumes of runoff. How much more run off will there be if the site is covered in roof tops and roads rather than 113 hectares of grass and trees?

The existing creeks already overflow their banks, as can be seen from the "high tide" debris on the fairway in this photo and the one below.

Where will the additional run off go? What will happen to the creeks and properties downstream from Paradise Palms when the run off increases? Will there be unexpected consequences?

Click the link below for a very interesting "Golf Australia" review of the Course, together with a bit of it's impressive history, written in March 2016

https://www.golfaustralia.com.au/feature/review-paradise-palms-455133

Click this link to listen to the interview:

https://www.4ca.com.au/john-mackenzie/88181-a-focus-away-from-golf-but-still-a-a-bright-future-for-paradise-palms

The Association is very pleased to have appointed Andrew Magoffin, a specialist Town Planning Lawyer with Holding Redlich, to work with us in contesting the Developer's plans and any Development Application that he may lodge in due course

The Association has been working to acquire expertise in specialist areas where we will need professional assistance.

After interviewing possible organisations we have chosen to employ "Planz Town Planning" to work with us against the Developer's Application.

They will commence the preparatory work immediately and be fully ready for action when any Application is lodged. They are passionate about preserving the green space and really wanted an opportunity to be a part of our team.

God save us all and our council

SHAMBLES: Cairns Regional Council meeting was complicated this week.

The current owner of Paradise Palms Golf Course has stated his intention of closing the Golf Course and applying for development approval for a large number of residential blocks of land. This is a genuine threat and may well come to pass if we sit back and do nothing.

The communities in the vicinity would all be negatively affected by such a move, losing one of the main reasons that we bought property here in the first place. The value of real estate in the area is estimated to fall by 15% if this plan is allowed to go ahead. In addition, the community would lose the last of the major green spaces in the region and there would be a significant negative effect on the extensive wildlife that live on the course.

Many of the residents of the communities surrounding the Course have banded together to form a registered not for profit Association (Paradise Palms Resident’s Association Inc, T/A Save Paradise Palms Golf Course) to:

1. Employ Town Planning Consultants to raise objections to the developer’s plans
2. Employ PR Consultants in the fields of both conventional media and social media to assist in spreading the message
3. Persuade the Cairns Regional Council to take ownership of the Course

These points can only succeed if the community in general shows a strong united front to both the developer and the Council. 

Concerned Community members and Body Corporates in the region have jointly funded the provision of a “fighting Fund” to PPRA Inc to achieve an acceptable outcome. Many local residents who live outside of the immediate area of the Golf Course have undertaken to individually contribute to the fighting fund and become members of PPRA Inc.

Membership Application forms are available on this web site.

THE PPRA INC COMMITTEE:

Chairperson:                                  Bob McPhail

Treasurer                                       Steve Patterson

Secretary:                                      Billy Esslemont

Committee:                                     Eileen McMurtrie

                                                        Clive Abbott

                                                         Tony Richards

                                                          Richard Campbell

Marketing Sub Committee:               Clive Abbott

                                                          Billy Esslemont

                                                          Tony Richards

The Save Paradise Palms Association has raised a Fighting Fund in order to employ professionals in Town Planning, Law and other areas to assist us with strategies and arguments to quash the Developer's proposals. 

We will certainly need more financial support as we get further into the process of fighting the 'big end' of town.

PS: The Association has an Auditor appointed

The Save Paradise Palms Association held a general Public Information Meeting on Tuesday 12th February at the Palm Cove Surf Club. 

There was a very strong attendance, as can be seen and the mood of the meeting was completely against the Halpin development proposal

For a long time now the Paradise Palms Facility has limped along under the ownership of developers who only bought it for its potential as a real estate development deal. They did not appear to have any long term commitment to making the existing facilities viable again.

The restaurant standard declined to the point that few people use it, the various Function and Meeting Rooms were not operated as revenue earners, the number of Weddings on site has fallen away almost completely. Corporate Golf Days have dwindled in number. 

The children's playground, the Putt Putt Golf Course and the excellent swimming pool like-wise appear to have suffered from a lack of commitment to making a profit.

In the early part of 2018 the Developer announced that as the Golf Course was losing money, there would be no alternative but to close it and apply to Council for a change of use to allow various forms of residential and commercial deveopment on the site.Not a great surprise to anyone who had been watching over time!.

The question is, why should the community pay such a high price for someone else's miscalculations? It is not the community's role to bail out developers that lose money, get their timing wrong and/or make mistakes.

3 Photos displayed in the top Banner were supplied by FrontrowPhoto. Thank you