So the Country Club Board continues its plan to sell off irreplaceable Community assets for an undisclosed purpose. Having made no serious attempt since 2016 to meet its development obligations to members concerning Vincentia Golf Club, in 2021 the Board commenced engagement with potential developers to sell off significant parts of the Golf Course. What has been announced in today's President's Message is the sad culmination of that endeavour.
One assumes that the "relevant industry experts" are the authors of the report presented to members in a farcical meeting in December 2023. This report is full of unsubstantiated assertions and inaccurate statements, to the point where the conclusions are fundamentally flawed and the report therefore worthless (see separate New item re Tully Heard Report flaws). There are partnered hospitality options which would preserve Club ownership of the assets and assure a low risk income flow while enhancing the overall Club amenity.
Even if the Board's proposal is the only viable solution, the intent to unnecessarily close off access to at least some of the top holes and abandon the already approved future development of the course without any explanation to members is unconscionable. Further the plan seems to threaten viability of the remaining golf course because of reduction in critical course water supply arising from impact to the top three dams.
Lastly, having consistently stated in various reports to members that the Club's debt levels are comfortably manageable, that financial performance of the Club overall is outstanding, and more recently that development of the vacant Paradise Beach Road land is not viable, the Board is not prepared to confide in members its intent for use of the sale funds.
Hopefully members will see that this proposition is not in their interest, nor that of the Vincentia-Huskisson community and vote down the non-core resolution, as they did the ill-considered changes to the Club Constitution as proposed by the Board at the last AGM.
Peter Laver
Secretary, Friends of Vincentia Golf Club (FoVGC Inc.)