Driving golf back to North Lakes

Players will be teeing up again at North Lakes golf course - if new plans get the green light.

Proposals have been lodged by JH Northlakes with Moreton Bay City Council for a 68-bay driving range on part of the former 18-hole course.

The development application is for bays in a 120m-long, two-storey building as well as a pro shop, bar, restaurant and conference/function facilities.

Images with the DA, on Council's website, show the driving range would use 2.1 hectares including the former clubhouse and three holes running parallel directly north.

Plans are for 141 car parking spaces and the proposed driving range would be open 7am-10pm seven days a week.

North Lakes Resort Golf Club closed in 2018, after reportedly running at a loss for many years, and was bought by The Village Retirement Group (TVRG).

TVRG wanted to build up to 250 retirement homes and a 120-bed residential care home on about 14 hectares of the 67-ha site.

It also offered to return almost 44ha to Moreton Bay City Council to be used as “open space” but retain around eight hectares.

Residents fiercely opposed the plans and loss of green space, launching Save North Lakes Golf Course (SNLGC), a campaign which ran for five years.

In that time JH Northlakes submitted new plans and answered lengthy information requests from Council officers.

During the public consultation period a record 4095 submissions were submitted, 3801 properly made, 294 incorrectly. Of those 3460 were against the development, 341 in support.

The SNLGC campaign ran until November 21, 2023 when plans were suddenly withdrawn by TVRG ... the day before they were to go before Moreton Bay City Council for a final decision.