Councillors in Clarence have given the green light to a proposed 18-hole links golf course adjacent to Seven Mile Beach after over a decade of planning and development.
The Five Mile Beach project, which has been in the works for several years, will be built on a wider 921.8-hectare site near Hobart Airport and will feature a shared clubhouse, restaurant, maintenance shed, amenities block and car parking.
The new course will run to the north of the Seven Mile Beach golf course, which is currently under construction, close to Lewisham.
Speaking as a councillor, Mayor Brendan Blomeley described the project as a “great example of private investment for public use” and said it will benefit walkers, horse riders and cyclists.
“[This is about] activating relatively dormant land and breathing new life into it, while keeping the varied needs of the community front of mind,” he said.
“What is proposed is not just a public golf course, but a world class facility right here in the City of Clarence. This development has the potential to become a community asset, a place for everybody, something that we all can be justly proud of.”
Blomeley said the project will also create new opportunities for local businesses and the wider community.
“Golf tourism is a huge industry … and the opportunity to have two courses on par with the best in the state right here in Clarence will deliver significant social economic opportunities and benefits to our community,” he said.
All councillors present at the meeting unanimously supported the project, except for Jade Darko, who abstained due to a ‘moral opposition’ to the sport of golf.
“[It is] something more in pursuit of the wealthy and ties up land but I do commend the proponent on the authoritativeness of the application,” she said.
