A PLAN has been pitched to redevelop the Morisset Country Club site.
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The redevelopment would see the golf course, bowling greens and licensed club replaced by houses and shops.
The plan has been outlined by Glen Drysdale whose company, Drysdale Metals Pty Ltd, owns the land.
Morisset Country Club leases the land from Mr Drysdale's company.
Mr Drysdale is in discussions with Lake Macquarie City Council and is seeking a rezoning of the site from the current 6(2) Tourism and Recreation, to allow residential and commercial development.
In a letter to Morisset Golf Club president Erica Ford, Mr Drysdale said he regretted upsetting club members, but it was a business decision.
"With the changing demographic in the local area, I am aware that demand for local golf and bowls membership has been in decline, placing the club under significant and unsustainable financial pressure," he said.
"At the same time, demand for affordable housing in the area is increasing."
The news has rocked the club staff and its members.
Ms Ford has attempted to allay the fears of golfers by writing to them in a newsletter.
She said the complex consent process would "take years rather than months".
"We can but wait and see at this stage and continue to press on with a positive attitude."
Morisset Country Club CEO Ian Taylor said he was concerned.
"There are over 50 people who rely on this club for their primary income, and then there are the suppliers," he said.
"The club's position is that we respect the owners' right to maximise their return on their property, but we feel due consideration needs to be given by all parties concerned to the value of the property and facilities to the community as they are now."
Mr Taylor said there were 1000 golf-playing and bowls-playing members (up 3 per cent on the previous year), and another 2000 active social members.
The licensed club was also an important community hub for organisations such as the local Returned and Services League (RSL), the Country Women's Association, View clubs and dancing groups.
Mr Taylor said the club's preference was for the site to be retained for its intended zoning use - sport and recreation.
"It's entirely up to the council, but we hope that council will make a quick decision so that we can get on with things - one way or the other."
Mr Drysdale said his company had worked for many years to "support the continuing viability of the club", and that he would assist the club with "transitioning to appropriate alternative arrangements".
■ The matter is due to be discussed at the LMCC meeting of December 9.
Piper watches with interest
LAKE Macquarie’s state MP and former mayor Greg Piper said the council faced an important decision.
‘‘It will be very interesting to see how council views this,’’ he said.
Council had consistently zoned the site for its current uses, he said.
And there was no desperate shortage of residential land supply in the area.
‘‘There’s plenty of land available, so I don’t believe the [Morisset Country Club] land is necessary for housing in southern Lake Macquarie.’’
Mr Piper said he understood Mr Drysdale and his company’s efforts to maximise the return on their land.
‘‘They’re quite entitled to try this, but I would hope that council realises that once this land is lost for this purpose [recreation], you’ll never see this type of facility in southern Lake Macquarie again. It just won’t happen.’’