New plan for golf course rejected

Plans for a 68-bay driving range on part of the former North Lakes Golf Course have been rejected by Moreton Bay City Council.

Council says the proposal “conflicts with desired environmental outcomes” within the Mango Hill Infrastructure Development Control Plan (MHIDCP).

The refusal, posted on Council’s website, adds the development application “includes uses that are broader than outdoor recreation” as defined by the MHIDCP.

Objections by the Save North Lakes Golf Course (SNLGC) campaign group also challenged the development as “outdoor recreation”.

Applicant JH Northlakes does have the right of appeal against the decision.

Council’s ruling follows JH Northlakes’ 2023 decision to withdraw plans for up to 250 retirement homes and a 120-bed residential care home on 14ha of the 67ha site.

That followed a five-year battle by SNLGC and came two years after the course itself closed.

The latest development application was lodged last year for a 68-bay driving range, pro shop, bar, restaurant and conference/function facilities on part of the former course.

It would use 2.1 hectares of the former golf course, including the Bridgeport Drive clubhouse and three holes running parallel directly north.

SNLGC objected saying the driving range proposal was not “outdoor recreation”, under the MHIDCP, but a “mixed use commercial entertainment facility”.

Campaigners said the proposals “constitute a commercial hospitality and events operation” with around a quarter of the building for bars, seating, conference, kitchen, VIP rooms and the pro shop.

“Additional concerns are its positioning within a residential area, traffic, lighting and pedestrian safety”, SNLGC said.

However, SNLGC is still anticipating an application, through the State Government MID process, for a new school on the southern end of the golf course land.

Key dates over last 25 years

1998

DCP (Development Control Plan) gazetted with standards for North Lakes population, open space and infrastructure.

2001

Lensworth/Lendlease gets approval from Pine Rivers Shire Council for 68-hectare golf course.

2002

Course land sold to Club Corp. North Lakes Resort Golf Club opens in November.

2004

In February, Golf Australia rates North Lakes Resort Golf Club in top 25 public access courses

2006

Course reported to have been sold by Club Corp to Global Sport

2009

Global financial crisis “decimated’ golf participation, especially corporate golf, says TVRG in August 2021 media release.

2018

Reports North Lakes Resort golf course was to be sold to TVRG and closed.

TVRG says, in August 2021 media release, by 2018 membership at North Lakes Resort Golf Club had dropped to under 150 and the course needed 150 rounds for 360 days of year to be commercially viable.

Save North Lakes Golf Course (SNLGC) action group launched by residents. Fundraising starts, online petition opens, legal support lined-up, concerns aired to community groups.

2019

August - JH Developments buys golf course land. TVRG says, in August 2021 media release, the course “ran at loss for many years”, the business and land had been on the market for more than five years and there were offers to buy it.

August 11 – North Lakes Resort golf course closes. TVRG reveals plans for retirement village and aged care facility. 47 hectares would remain open space for public.

2021

August - TVRG announces additional plans for independent school on eight hectares of the former golf course and will seek approval through Ministerial Infrastructure Designation (MID), direct to Deputy Premier and State Member for Murrumba Steven Miles.

September – State Govt opts not to support TVRG’s MID approach “for reasons including that there is no identified funding for the development of the school.”

October 19 – Application by JH Northlakes Pty Ltd, seeks a "variation request" to the Mango Hill Infrastructure Development Control Plan (Mango Hill DCP)

December – MBRC says application not properly made. TVRG challenges decision in the Planning and Environment Court

2022

April – Hearing at Planning and Environment Court in Brisbane

June 10 – Court decision released backing MBRC, saying application was not properly made

July – JH Northlakes says it will resubmit application to vary development control plan in North Lakes.

September – JH Northlakes lodges new development application for North Lakes Golf Course land. SNLGC says it is “bigger than before” with 243 retirement units, 120-bed 24/7 nursing home facility with four new entrances on Copeland Dr.

November 1 – MBRC sends 11-page additional ‘information request’ to JH North Lakes over its application. JH Northlakes given 12 months to respond.

2023

April – Response to information request received, with minor changes.

June – Driven by SNLGC, MBRC received record 4095 public consultation; 3801 properly made, 294 not properly made; 3460 against the development, 341 in support.

October – Additional information request sent by council. Response received on October 25.

November 21 – TVRG is reported to have withdrawn its development application.

2025

July - plans lodged by JH Northlakes for a 68-bay driving range in a 120m-long, two-storey building as well as a pro shop, bar, restaurant and conference/function facilities.

2026

June 8 - Moreton Bay City Council rejects driving range development application.