Retirement village proposed for leading Queensland golf clubs

Evidence of the dramatically changing golf landscape in Australia, Aura Holdings have revealed ambitious plans for retirement villages at the Toowoomba and Indooroopilly Golf Clubs in Queensland.

The Toowoomba development was approved late last month, and involves 78 apartments across three buildings behind the 9th green on the Middle Ridge golf course site. We understand the club is likely to receive around $3.3 million for the sale of land needed to build the apartments, and will spend that money improving its course and member facilities.

“Aura’s business and operating model fit in well with the members interests in providing a product compatible with the relaxed atmosphere for which our Club is renowned,” said Johnathon Zirkler, the General Manager of Toowoomba Golf Club at Middle Ridge.

Included within the development are community-based facilities such as a putting green, library, heated pool and function area. Presumably the golf club expects some of the new residents to also become golf members.

Meanwhile in Brisbane, the same development company recently announced plans for a 215-unit retirement community at the 36-hole Indooroopilly Golf Club in the city’s west. It’s understood that Indooroopilly will lease land to Aura Holdings for 60 years and permit 215 units across four buildings that are four to five storeys in height.

An overwhelming percentage of golf members supported the proposal, which will require a redevelopment of one of its golf courses. The club recently undertook an international golf course architect search, and is expected to announce the successful re-designer sometime in the near future. Given recent experiences at struggling Queensland golf courses, we hope the appointment is properly considered and enables the club to rebuild the East Course into a high-quality layout.

 

by Darius Oliver

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Artist's impression of proposed village at Toowoomba

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