sandringham golf links project -...

SANDRINGHAMGOLFLINKSPROJECT

STAKEHOLDERENGAGEMENT

BACKGROUNDINFORMATIONPAPER

SEPTEMBER2017

Thispaperprovides information regarding thecontext for theconceptproposal fortheSandringhamGolfLinksProject.Thepaperhasbeenpreparedtoprovidestakeholderswithbackgroundontheprojectandpromotequestionsandcommentstobediscussedatthestakeholdermeetings.

PROJECTOVERVIEWThe Sandringham Golf Links Course Project (‘The Project’) is a joint initiativebetweenGolfVictoria,GolfAustralia,PGAAustraliaandtheSandringhamGolfLinksManagementwithfundingsupportfromtheVictorianGovernment.Theprojectconceptincludesthefollowingelements:

• Publicdrivingrange:350metre(approximately)longdrivingrangeincludinggrassteesandtargetgreens.

• Publicshortgamepracticearea:Largechippingareaandputtinggreen.

• Public golf training facilities: Indoor training facilities including golfsimulators.

• Publiccafé:Publiccaféwithinthemainbuildingwithviewsoverthecourse.

• AnareaforGolfVictoriaandCourseManagement:AdministrationspaceforGolfVictoriaandSandringhamGolfLinksstaff.

• Creation of another water body: For water storage and course irrigation,reducingthecourse’srelianceonpotablewater.

• Increasethenumberofindigenoustreesandvegetation.

• Coursesafetyimprovements.

PROJECTOBJECTIVESTheobjectivesoftheproject(innospecificorder)areto:

• Provide various improvements to Sandringham Golf Course in line withpreviouslyidentifiedneedsfromcommunityconsultation.

• Growtheparticipationinthesportandusageofthegolfcourseparticularlythroughengagingnewmarketssuchasyoungpeopleandtime-poorplayers.

• Generate additional revenue to support the operations of the Course andensureitsfinancialviabilityintothefuture.

• Providehighqualitypracticefacilitiesforallplayersofalllevelsfromsocialtotheelitetodeveloptheirskillsaswellasforskilledplayerstohaveaccesstohighperformancetrainingfacilities.

The Project represents a significant investment into golf in the region and theSandringhamGolfLinkscourse.

PROJECTBENEFITSThebenefitsoftheproposalinclude:SPORT/SOCIAL

• Providesadditionalshortcourseoptionstoencourageparticipationfornewmarketssuchasyoungerpeopleortime-poorplayerswhilstretainingthe18-holecourse.

• Provides new and improved facilities for users of the Sandringham GolfCourse.

• Reconfiguresparticulargolfholestominmisetheriskoferrantgolfballs.

• Improvesgolftrainingfacilitiesforparticipants.

• Providesenhancedamenitiesforparticipants.

• EnablesSandringhamGolfLinksManagementtorunprogramstogetschoolchildren,beginnersandfamiliesintogolf.

• EnablesimprovedprogrammingofSandringhamGolfLinks.

• Provides Council with an opportunity to expand the Sandringham LeisureCentretoaccommodategrowingusageandparticipationlevels.

ENVIRONMENTAL

• Provides for the renewalof indigenousvegetationvia removalofvinesandweedsaswellastherenewalanddiversificationofthenativeandindigenousfloraatthecourse.

• Replacementof native indigenous flora at SandringhamGolf Linkson a 3:1basisforanyremoval.

• Lakes one and two increasewater-holding capacity,which can be used forcourse irrigation, reducing potable water consumption for the golf course.BothoftheselakeswillbefullyfundedbytheGolfBodies.

• Lake three on the golf course would provide a further water source forCouncil’scommunityrecreationneeds. ThedevelopmentofthislakewouldbesubjecttoCouncilfunding.

FINANCIAL

• Provides investment and improvements to a Council at no cost to theratepayers.

• Reduces recurrentmaintenance costs for Council by replacing aging assetswithnewfacilities.

• TheProject’sgolfcomponentsarefullyfundedbytheVictorianGovernment,Golf Victoria and the Sandringham Golf Links Management and are notreliantonanyCouncilfunding.

BACKGROUNDGOLFTRENDS

• The number of golf rounds played between 2012 and 2015 is increasingnationally(12.1%)andinVictoria(16.5%).

• Whilstgolf iscommonlyplayedbymiddleandolderadults (topfiveactivityfor45+agecohort)childrenhaveaverylowparticipationrate.

• Topthreedriversforgolfparticipantsarefun/enjoyment,socialreasonsandphysicalhealthorfitness(2017AusplaySurvey).

• Golf needs to focus on developing fun and social options for the game,followedbyoptionstoplayashortgame(2015GolfLandscapeResearch).

• Golfneeds tooffer shortcourseoptions for sixandninehole formats, thatcomplements the18hole tradition (GolfAustraliaParticipationPlan2013–2016).

• Theshortcourseoptionswillenablegolf tocater foranageinganddiversepopulation(FutureofAustralianSport,CSIRO).

• The trend in new golf development internationally appears to be towardshort,compactcoursesthatarepublicandfamily-friendly.

SANDRINGHAMGOLFLINKSCOURSE

• The overall number of rounds played at Sandringham Golf Links hasdecreasedby25%fromahighof93,000in1999to70,000in2016.

• Despite an overall decline in the number of rounds, the number of 9-holeroundsplayedhasbeengrowing. Over50%ofroundsatSandringhamGolfLinksare9holes.

IDENTIFIEDCOMMUNITYNEEDS

Bayside City Council previously undertook research and commissioned strategicreportsforgolfin2008and2012.Thesereportsprovidedthefollowinginsights:

• 75%ofusersoftheSandringhamGolfCourseareaged50yearsandover.

• Themajorityofgolfersindicatedthattheywouldusedrivingrangefacilitiesifprovided.

• Golfers previously advised that the course would benefit from practicefacilitiesforshortgameandputtingpractice.

COUNCILCouncil,atitsmeetingon25July2017,consideredareportontheProjectproposalandsupportedGolfVictoriaandSandringhamGolfLinksManagementtocommencestakeholderandcommunityconsultation.THEPROJECTTEAMTheGolfBodieshaveengagedWaypoint,aBrightonbasedconsultingfirm,toassistintheplanninganddeliveryoftheproject.RichardSimon,fromSimonLeisureConsulting,hasbeenengagedtocoordinatetheConsultationprocessandprovideindependentadvicetotheProjectteam.

CONCEPTDESIGNA draft concept plan has been developed for the Project which includesmodificationstothedesignofthecoursetoinclude:

• Modified course layout including revised tee and greenpositions, includingsomeadvancedteepositionsthatprovidetheoptionforplayerstofocusontheirshortgame.

• Newdrivingrangefacilitywithvariedgreen/pinpositionstoallowplayerstopracticeshotvariety.

• New main building inclusive of public facilities, high performance golfgymnasium,administrationroomsandcafé.

• Additionalwaterbodytoenableincreasedwatercaptureandstorageonthecourse.

CONSULTATIONPROCESSPHASE1–CONSULTATIONBACKGROUNDPAPERTheConsultationBackgroundPaperwillbemadeavailabletokeystakeholdersandthecommunitytoprovidebackgroundandcontextontheProject.Stakeholdersareencouraged to review thepaper andbring alongquestions and comments for thestakeholdermeeting.PHASE2–STAKEHOLDERMEETINGSAnumberofstakeholdermeetingsareplannedtoenablediscussionontheProjectproposalandgatherfeedbackontheconcept.TheProjectGroupwillnotequestionsand comments for response or consideration in the concept plan developmentprocess.InconsultationwithCouncil,thefollowingstakeholdershavebeenidentified:GOLFCLUBS

• SandringhamAssociatesGolfClub• SandringhamGolfClub• EastBentleighYMCAGolfClub• MawarraYMCAGolfClub• MentoneGolfClub• JapaneseGolfAssociation

ENVIRONMENTALGROUPS

• BeaumarisConservationSociety• BaysideCommunityNursery• BaysideFriendsofNativeWildlife

NEARBYTENANTS

• SandringhamBasketballAssociation• SandringhamFacilityLeisureCentreTenants• RoyalMelbourneGolfClub• VictoriaGolfClub

SURROUNDINGRESIDENTS

PHASE3-MEETINGMINUTESDISTRIBUTEDMeeting minutes will be prepared and distributed shortly after the meeting tocapturethediscussion.Questionsandcommentswillbenotedforconsiderationintheconceptplanandfutureresponse.PHASE4–PROJECTGROUPRESPONSETOISSUES/QUESTIONSRAISEDHavingconsideredquestionsandcommentsontheconcept,theProjectGroupwillprovidearesponsebacktostakeholders.PHASE5-FINALCONSULTATIONREPORTFollowing conclusion of the stakeholder consultation sessions, a comprehensiveConsultationReportwillbepreparedbySimonLeisureConsulting. TheReportwilldocumenttheconsultationprocess,keyissuesraised,responsestostakeholdersandanyrecommendeddirections.TheConsultationReportwillbepresentedtoCouncilofficersforconsiderationataCouncillorbriefingorCouncilmeeting.PHASE6–REGULARUPDATESGolfVictoriawillprovideregularupdatesontheProjectthroughitswebsitewww.golfvic.org.au/sandringhamproject

ISSUESANDOPPORTUNITIESThefollowingisasummarylistofissuesthathavebeenconsideredtodateinthedevelopmentoftheprojectconceptandplanning.SPORT

• Changestothecourse layoutandlength:Themainchangetothecourseisfocusedaroundtheproposedareaforthedrivingrangewhichimpactsontheexisting holes 1 and 9 (closest to CheltenhamRoad). The proposalwill beworkedthroughwiththestakeholderstocarefullyconsideranyimpacts.

• Builtformofanyproposedbuildings:Theproposedbuildingwillbelimitedto two storeys. The ground floor will be predominantly coaching facilitiesthat will be available to the public, a swing analysis laboratory, pro shop,publiccaféandamenities.Thereareseveralnewservice/golfactivitiesthatwillbeavailabletothecommunity,theseincludeashortgamepracticearea,accesstogolfswinganalysisandgolfindoorsimulators.Thesecondfloorwillhousemodestadministrativespace.

• Impact on existing users of the Sandringham Golf Links course: TheproposalincludesmoreplayingandpracticeoptionsfortheGolfCourseusersthrough thedeliveryofadriving range,practicechippingandputtingareasand short course playing options. The proposal also provides highperformance coaching tools and technology that will be accessible to thepublic.

• Retentionof18holegolf course layout:Therevisedgolfcourse layoutwillretainall18holesinacontemporarylayoutthatappealstoabroaderrangeofusers.

ENVIRONMENTAL/AMENITY

• Impactontreesandvegetation: Theproposalhascarefullyconsideredtheimpactonexistingtreesandvegetationandminimisesthelossofindigenoustrees. The proposed minimal removal of old tired vegetation at the golfcoursewillbereplacedona3:1basis.

• Impactonsurroundingresidentialareas:Theproposalincludingtherevised

golf course layout and the proposed building is confined to within theexistinggolf coursesite. Thepublicdriving range isplanned foruseduringdaylight hours andwill not include lighting. The Proposal is therefore notexpectedtohaveadirectimpactonnearbyresidents.

FINANCIAL

• Cost impactof theseadditional facilities togolf courseusers: There isno

proposed change to pricing for golf course use as a result of the proposal.Golfcourseuserswillbeabletoaccessthedrivingrangeforafee.

• Public access to these facilities: The golf course, driving range, café and

amenitieswillallbeavailabletothepublicforuse.

NEXTSTEPSConsultation will be occurring with Project stakeholder including communityworkshopsduringtheSeptember/October2017period.Projectenquiriesshouldbedirectedto:RichardSimonSimonLeisureConsultinge.richard@simonleisure.com