Hundreds of senior citizens will lodge an objection to Wollongong Golf Club’s plans to build a double-storey, 44-bay driving range at its beach-side course.
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The golf club revealed last month that it was hoping to cash-in on overseas golfing tourism and after-dark games, by using the upper levels of the driving range to “encourage a more relaxed social atmosphere, akin to barefoot bowling”.
The landing area for golf balls would involve part of the course’s existing sixth and 18th holes, which are directly in front of the IRT Links Seaside apartments.
A committee representing the 234 residents in the apartments has raised concerns about noise and bright flood lighting from the driving range, which is proposed to operate from 6am to 10pm seven days a week.
Louise and Alan Doughton, who have lived in an apartment facing the golf course for the past five years, are worried the golf club’s plans could dramatically affect their quality of life and sleep.
The couple’s living room and bedroom directly overlooks the fairways which would become the landing area, prompting concerns about late night noise.
“At night, when there’s a lower ambient noise level, there will be a lot of noise from the balls – hit after hit after hit,” Mr Doughton said.
“We’ve been told they want to target the youth market – so when people are tanked up with alcohol late at night and a person is a good shot, there’ll be screaming and yelling and cheering.
“All that type of noise will travel – and that doesn’t include the ball catcher which will probably need to come in to clear up all the balls either late at night or early in the morning.”
Ms Doughton said she was most concerned about the planned flood lighting, which would turn the golf course fluoro green and shine through her windows until late.
Other residents have also highlighted safety concerns, worrying that balls sliced from the upper bays of the driving range could clear trees and land on the Links Seaside private walkways.
IRT’s Lifestyle Manager Nigel Button said the residents hoped their submission would prompt more consultation from the club, to come up with a proposal that did not unreasonably affect their lifestyle.
“Our point is not mass opposition, but there are some serious concerns about the current DA that relate to the timing, light, noise and safety aspects,” Mr Button said.
“We just think there needs to be better consultation with these residents, which we haven’t had at the moment.”
The proposal is on exhibition through Wollongong City Council’s website, with public submissions open until September 23.
Kate McIlwain
For more than a decade, I've helped the Illawarra Mercury set the news agenda across the region. Currently I'm the paper's health reporter - covering the stories of Illawarra workers and residents in the wake of a global pandemic and at a time where our health systems are stretched to the limit.
For more than a decade, I've helped the Illawarra Mercury set the news agenda across the region. Currently I'm the paper's health reporter - covering the stories of Illawarra workers and residents in the wake of a global pandemic and at a time where our health systems are stretched to the limit.
