Following on from previous updates in the Club’s newsletter and having achieved a major milestone in the Clubhouse Redevelopment Project in early December I felt it was time to update Members on the Project’s progress and the program for the next quarter.
Development Application (DA) Progress
After many months of meetings, discussions, analysis and work by our Clubhouse Redevelopment Committee (CRC), and especially the DA Group led by John Wynne, with support from Noni De Carvalho, Sam Howe and myself, plus our various consultants including Project Management from Compass, a Pre-DA Submission package was submitted to Ku-Ring-Gai Council in early October. Both members and staff with hospitality experience were consulted with on various aspects of the updated layouts and designs.
The purpose of the Pre-DA Submission was to obtain Council’s feedback on our initial designs and hear of any contentious issues and critical changes preferred by Council.
The package presented comprised the preliminary modernisation designs of the Clubhouse based on the Members feedback we received last year, an upgraded car parking solution to meet the Club’s parking needs, an indoor golf centre, biodiversity matters, tree removal and landscaping works, demolition plans, a new golf cart storage building, water sustainability and a high-level statutory planning review.
Following the pre-DA submission, Council invited KGC to a Pre-DA Submission meeting in early December. In the meeting Council provided comprehensive and generally positive feedback on some critical aspects of the designs, and expressed a willingness to work further with us on these elements before we lodge our final DA. Now that the Festive Season is over, work is progressing on all aspects of the DA which involves working through the items raised by Council, updating Council on our developments and finalising the detailed paperwork and technical reports required to Lodge a DA.
We hope to complete this enormous task and lodge the DA before Easter, well-knowing there will be an avalanche of reports and documents prepared by the consultants which the DA Group, the CRC and the Board will need to vet and approve before the Lodgement.
Existing Clubhouse
In the Designs, the existing clubhouse retains its significant and recognised heritage value. To better serve member needs and enhance the Club’s facilities, selective modifications have been proposed particularly to the 1950s extension and non-heritage interior elements. These changes present an opportunity to preserve the original architecture and features we all treasure while introducing a more contemporary and functional fit-out. Much of the members’ feedback we received in April/May 2025 has been incorporated into the revised designs. Eg. the central staircase and void have been removed, the central bar has been moved to the south, and a covered/sheltered upper terrace has been introduced instead of extending the upper (dance floor) room out over the terrace. We hope this will provide a welcoming shady retreat with magnificent views over our stunning golf course.
Car Parking
Extensive analysis on the current traffic patterns and anticipated car parking usage was carried by an external independent transport consultant.
The plan is to consolidate member parking within the existing designated area, supplemented by an overflow zone. This strategy is sensitive to the area we have, the neighbouring properties and incorporates landscaped setbacks to address visual impact. Some existing trees have been identified for removal to accommodate this plan.
Indoor Golf Centre
As presented to Members in April 2025, the DA will include an all-weather indoor practice facility, which is increasingly central to modern golf clubs and in demand by our members. The plan is for the proposed facility to be located on the northern side of the grounds, well set back from adjacent properties, in proximity to the existing tennis courts and a planned relocated bowling green.
—
Once the CRC and the Board are satisfied with the majority of the proposed developments by late February, we plan to display images of the designs in the Clubhouse for Members to view before the Lodgement.
As previously mentioned, what we will ultimately lodge in the DA will satisfy the Facilities Brief updated by the CRC based on members feedback from last year and subsequently approved by the Board. The proposed design remains substantially similar to the concept plans presented to Members last year with some value management to reduce costs and practical changes based on updated heritage advice. However, it is important to remember that what is ultimately lodged is based on the Club’s preferred optimal design and may contain more than we can afford to build initially or may need to be built in stages depending on funding.
As John Wynne noted in his presentation on planning issues to Members, it is better to include everything we would want to do if possible, rather than seek to subsequently make additions as the latter requires a new DA or modification of any DA consent and therefore involves more time and cost.
We are very cognisant of the need to continue to service Members with their Club, golfing, sporting and recreation needs during any redevelopment works. The staging of the works and operation of services will be analysed in detail and formalised at a later stage of the project and ideally in collaboration with a selected builder/developer.
Funding Stream
As Members will be aware, the State Government approved the Council’s alternative plans to the Government’s Transport Oriented Development (TOD) plan for the area within 400m from Killara Station in November 2025. KGC lands are not in this area and there are no changes to KGC’s zoning nor potential uplifts. As a result of this certainty, we have ramped up our work on the Project’s Funding Stream.
In October we invited a number of our members who are experts in Property Development to meet with members of CRC to offer their views on the development options available to KGC and the feasibility of the same. We are very grateful to Simon Nesbitt, Shen Shiu and James Quigley for so willingly agreeing to meet with us, offer up their valuable time and expertise in Property Development. Their feedback and counsel have been very valuable.
As an outcome of our meetings, I am delighted to advise that James Quigley has joined the CRC and is now actively guiding the Development Options and Sales process and program for the Funding Stream.
There are a number of pathways KGC can pursue with respect to the sale of the Club’s Pacific Highways Lands to secure funding for the Clubhouse Project, but the scenario analysis is complex.
Investigation of options under the various planning controls such as the Low to Mid-Rise Housing provisions, Infill Affordable Housing uplifts and through the newly established Housing Delivery Authority (HDA) which can lead to a state significant development (SSD) pathway all need thorough analysis and review to achieve the best outcome for KGC. Consequently, in December, the Board approved CRC procuring an independent professional Development advisory group to support the Group in this high workload, critical evaluation and property development and sales program. In accordance with our procurement principles, an RFP for this advisory work has just been issued to 4 Property Development and Advisory companies. The RFP responses will be rated and evaluated in February before a recommendation can be made to the Board.
As per the KGC Constitution and advice to Members in March/April 2025, no binding sale of the Pacific Highway lands will be undertaken without holding an EGM for members to vote on any proposed sale to support the future of the Club and its ongoing development to better service the Members’ needs. The timing of an EGM is currently unknown, as there is still much work to be undertaken, but advice on the timing will be provided at the earliest opportunity. At present, an EGM is unlikely to be earlier than the second half of 2026.
Finally, I extend my deep appreciation to all members of the CRC, the DA Control Group, the Funding Stream, Management and not least members we have called on for their advice and challenges, for their time, valuable discussions, good questions and critical thinking in this significant KGC Project, giving us a clear sense of momentum towards our 2026 milestones.
Sincerely
Patricia Biszewski
Chair Clubhouse Re-development Committee
