Royal Sydney Golf Club in Rose Bay has submitted an application to Woollahra Council seeking modifications to the approved construction hours, expediting the completion of its planned $17 million upgrades for the 18-hole golf course.
Submitted in early August 2023, Royal Sydney Golf Club’s application aims to secure approval for machine excavation activities to commence earlier in the day, stating the distinctive nature of the site and the project.
Their submitted documents state that the Royal Sydney Golf Club (RSGC) has a site area of over 58 hectares, which is considered one of the most extensive privately owned landholdings in Sydney. And the sheer expanse of the site coupled with the presence of public roads and the abundant vegetation around its borders, already provides a substantial physical separation between the ongoing activities within the premises and the neighbouring properties.
The document further stated the approved plans involve the ‘renovation and landscape rehabilitation’ of the existing golf course at RSGC. This means they will be working on the ground, making the landscape better, and upgrading the water systems for irrigation and stormwater infrastructure. Hence, the redevelopment won’t include other things like piling, piering, or cutting through rocks, which are common on regular building sites.
RSGC stated that current approved conditions allow construction activities to take place between 7 am and 5 pm on weekdays and between 7 am and 1 pm on Saturdays. Part of the currently approved construction hours, however, prevent certain activities from commencing before 9 am on weekdays and Saturdays, and after 4 pm on weekdays.
The application, thus, seeks to modify that condition by deleting reference to ‘machine excavation’ as a work activity that needs to take place before 9 am (weekdays and Saturdays) and after 4 pm (weekdays).
One of the reasons stated in the application document is to expedite the timing of construction which will benefit both RSGC and the surrounding community because the duration of impacts associated with the construction works will be reduced.
The $17 million upgrade was initially proposed in 2019 and it encompasses the enhancements to be undertaken on the 5900-strong Royal Sydney Golf Club’s greens, fairways and bunkers. It, however, met strong opposition from the local community who raised concerns about the proposed removal of almost 600 established trees.
The $17 million upgrade was initially proposed in 2019 and it encompasses the enhancements to be undertaken on the 5900-strong Royal Sydney Golf Club’s greens, fairways and bunkers. It, however, met strong opposition from the local community who raised concerns about the proposed removal of 595 established trees.
Whilst the proposed project was refused by the Council in early 2022, the Land & Environment Court upheld the elite club’s appeal in December of the same year and gave it the green light to move forward. The approved plans will increase the total number of almost 1,600 trees onsite along with other mitigating measures.
Published 28-August-2023
