The sweeping corridors of pine and eucalyptus are a drawcard for many budding golfers at the Rossdale golf course in Melbourne’s south-east.
“They call it the ‘friendly course’ for a reason,” said Greg McMahon, a club member.
“It’s a course that’s inclusive, caters for all abilities. A course that has a community feel about it.”
The course, located a few blocks from Aspendale Beach, is steeped in history, having hosted the Australian PGA championship on two occasions in the 1960s.
But the board’s plans to sell the 42-hectare site and potentially build hundreds of medium to high-density homes have attracted the ire of the community.
“Absolutely there’s NIMBY [not-in-my-backyard] behaviour. We are locals,” Mr McMahon said.
In the past fiscal year, the club’s operating debt reached $1.2 million, which has sped up its plans to sell the privately-owned land.
“The 2025 financial year was marked by continued revenue growth as well as growth in membership numbers, however the club still made a loss,” its latest annual report said.
Greg McMahon says the community has not been consulted. (ABC News: Patrick Rocca)
Unlike the nearby sandbelt courses, Rossdale is open for public use, and Mr McMahon said the flat terrain is preferred for novices working on their swing.
“It is something where the average person can access golf on a regular basis,” he said.
Mr McMahon represents about 100 golf and community members through the Save Rossdale Action Group, who are fighting to protect the large open space.
“We have not, as a community, been consulted,” he said.
Looking to relocate
More than 90 per cent of the club’s 400 members voted to sell the land and relocate in 2018.
Rossdale Golf Club president Geoff Charnley said the board has tried to be transparent with club members.
“No one wants to leave, we just need to leave because it’s not sustainable to cut that debt back,” he said.
The club has looked at several options, like staying at Aspendale, which it said had not proven feasible.
Since the vote several years ago, the club’s membership has nearly doubled. But Mr Charnley said the influx had still failed to meet the club’s target of 1,000 members.
“The ability for the club to pay back that debt now is very limited. It would just be impossible for the club to generate that sort of money.”
President Geoff Charnley says the golf club has no other option but to sell its land. (ABC News: Nico White)
The board is yet to find a site for the relocation.
The Save Rossdale Action Group believes another vote should be held with the golf club’s new members.
“The motion should be revisited because things have changed. We don’t believe it’s a done deal,” Mr McMahon said.
International wetlands nearby
The golf course lies near the boundary of the Edithvale-Seaford Wetlands, which are internationally listed under the Ramsar Convention for supporting threatened waterbird species and conserving biological diversity.
The reserve is Melbourne’s only Ramsar-listed site, which Mr McMahon said provided a vital piece of the biosphere.
“You can’t replace that if you suddenly make everything concrete,” he said.
“It also mitigates significant climate issues, which are becoming more and more prevalent in this area, given that we’re so close to the sea.”
The wetlands would not be under direct threat of development but there are concerns about pollution and the risk of flooding in the surrounding area.
The Edithvale-Seaford Wetlands are internationally recognised for supporting native wildlife. (ABC News: Patrick Rocca)
The state government’s planning rules require entities to consider seven steps for the redevelopment of a golf course, including wildlife and transport.
The golf club has completed a study of the native habitat and plant life, and a final assessment on the nearby wetlands will be completed when a development concept is prepared for planning authorities.
City of Kingston mayor Georgina Oxley said the council did not need any development to meet its housing targets.
“We are a council that is certainly not against housing in our local area. But it’s important that that housing is in the right area,” she said.
“Developing on flood-prone land, developing in areas that would not cope without significant infrastructure investment is simply not the right area for that development.”
Mayor ‘disappointed’ with plans
In a letter addressed to Ms Oxley in December — seen by the ABC — Victoria’s Planning Minister Sonya Kilkenny referred to the council as the “relevant planning authority”.
Ms Kilkenny said it was her “expectation” the council and golf club, which sits just outside her electorate, would “engage on the proposal”.
She referred the proposal to the government’s Priority Projects Standing Advisory Committee, which Ms Oxley said happened without any notice.
“Council’s really disappointed that the state government have intervened and fast-tracked Rossdale,” Ms Oxley said.
The council attended the meeting, which looked at whether the proposal had complied with the government’s planning guidelines. The committee is not considering rezoning the land.
The Rossdale Golf Club has been operating in Melbourne’s south-east for over 80 years. (Supplied)
A Victorian government spokesperson rejected the council’s claims.
“This proposal has not been ‘fast-tracked’ and will be considered on its merits, with every submission to be considered,” the spokesperson said.
Rossdale has already sold parts of its land and floated the idea of merging with other nearby courses to save costs, but the golf club’s president said that was not a viable long-term option.
“It’s almost like death by a thousand cuts,” Mr Charnley said.
“Because you haven’t solved the fundamental problem, which is the business model can’t make money.”
If the committee accepts the relevant guidelines have been met, the minister will determine if a planning scheme should be prepared, and then open up for community consultation.
Golf memberships increased by more than 5 per cent nationally last year, including over 115,000 new players in Victoria.
“Golf has never been stronger in Australia and the reality is we need more golf courses to meet demand, not less,” said Damien de Bohun from Golf Australia.
“Facilities like Rossdale, that deliver positive community health, social and lifestyle benefits is central to achieving that goal.”
The Casey Group, who has been tasked with investigating how the site may be developed, did not respond to requests for comment.
