Wollongong Golf Club is taking a second shot at its plan to build a two-level driving range at its beachside course, after it was recommended the proposal be knocked back earlier this year.
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The new incarnation will be smaller than the original and only open during daylight hours, in an effort to allay the worries of nearby residents about bright flood lighting which was proposed for late-night operations.
The driving range plan was originally submitted to Wollongong City Council in 2016, and – despite objections from hundreds of residents in IRT’s nearby seniors’ apartments – was recommended for approval by council staff.
However, in February, the Independent Hearing and Assessment Panel issued a scathing report on the plans, and said they should not go ahead in their current form.
In modified plans now on exhibition, the new proposed hours would be 7am-8pm in summer and 7am-6pm in winter.
No lighting would be installed and the second stage of the plan – which would have included extra hitting bays – will not go ahead.
Responding to IHAP comments about noise, lighting, visual and social impacts, Cardno lodged new photo montages to show the driving range in context.
In a letter to IHAP, Cardno senior principal David Laing addressed 10 different issues raised by the panel, highlighting the findings of a “social impact assessment” for the plan. He said younger couples and singles moving into high-rise blocks were changing the demographics of Wollongong, increasing the number of professionals, clerical and administrative workers with higher disposal incomes living in the city.
“Destination NSW has indicated that Golf Tourism is a growth area for the state requiring the expansion of existing facilities to increase the states attractiveness,” Mr Laing said.
“Overall, the social impacts to the Wollongong community are positive, providing a diversity [of] tourism offerings ... [and] a new recreation activity for the growing population of Wollongong.”
The modified plans will be open for public comment until May 12.