With acknowledgement – from the Riotact
22 November 2024 | Ian Bushnell
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What the 125-dwelling retirement village will look like. Federal Golf Club says the development is vital to its future. Image: GDH.
Developers of a proposed retirement village on a section of the Federal Golf Club course are hopeful of a 2025 start to the $100 million project after securing conditional approval from the Territory Planning Authority.
Sydney company Mbark proposes to build 125 dwellings, including 77 single-storey houses and 48 apartments across six three-storey buildings, and a health and wellbeing centre for residents on six hectares of the course.
MBark is partnering with the club, which argues the project is vital to securing its long-term financial future. But the proposal has been attacked on environmental grounds and from within the club as flawed financially.
Mbark development manager David Consalvi said this approval would pave the way for an application to remove the concessional status from the retirement village area of the site, the final development application (DA) hurdle to be cleared before work could start.
“We are working towards submitting this application soon and we are hopeful the extensive consultations undertaken on this project at multiple stages will see the removal of the concessional status for the approved retirement village happen on a timely basis,” Mr Consalvi said.
“This would allow the project to commence during 2025, which would be optimal to ensure the club’s vulnerabilities are addressed as soon as they can be and a return to business as usual can be achieved as fast as possible.
“The approved retirement village is the best option for the club and for the site to have a sustainable future.”
The approval at Federal Golf Club comes with a host of tree and environmental management conditions. Photo: Region.
All up, seven DAs have been submitted with proposals for an access road from Kitchener Street and a dam still under assessment. This approval is also dependent on the outcome of the other DAs.
Earlier in the month, a DA for a lease variation to include the retirement village use was approved.
The retirement village DA had been put on hold until Mbark provided a raft of information on environmental management and protections.
Mbark was requested in June to provide further information on tree management, managing wildlife habitat and corridors, run-off, invasive species, light and noise pollution, and bushfire risks.
The approval comes with a host of conditions relating to these areas.
Mr Consalvi said the conditions were extensive and ensured the comprehensive protection of the land’s environmental values.
“These have been provided for in the commitments and obligations under the project’s Environmental Significance Opinion that preceded the development applications and which the project is required to adhere to,” he said.
“Whilst significant, the costs and timing have been factored into project planning.”
The DA attracted 326 written representations – 101 in support and 225 against.
Issues raised included the proposal’s size and impact on amenity and adjoining properties, traffic increase, and environmental impacts including loss of trees and disruption to wildlife (Gang-gang cockatoos and kangaroos).
This DA proposes 358 trees be removed but the planting of 579, mostly natives.
