From rubbish tip to golf course

Article by Chris Elder

Selected waste from Kincumber and Woy Woy tips, and also from Sydney, has for many years been redirected to this public course where it becomes fill for the conversion of this 40 year old landmark from 9 holes to 18. Mangrove Mountain Memorial Club is behind this radical venture. Built on strong community values and a “can do” leadership team, the Club has always provided much for the Mountain residents. The modern Clubhouse is the social hub for the locals, being used as an accommodation centre during bushfires and the home of a defibrillator which some might have thought was essential after playing on the hilly terrain: but not for much longer!

In 1998 the Club received approval from Gosford Council to extend and remodel its course. How to fund that? Left-field thinking from this progressive Club: “Let’s use all the safe waste out there and turn it into a public asset.” So a contractor was engaged, the waste started arriving and the course started changing. In exchange for allowing part of the course to be used as a “tip” (nowadays a politically incorrect description, more accurately an “inert landfill” site), the contractor uses his massive equipment, labour and skill to provide the Club with the basis of its new course. The Club then completes the greens, dams, paths and other landscaping at its own cost. The contractor’s CV is impressive, having completed similar “waste to asset” projects at Wakehurst Golf Course, Warwick Farm Racecourse and the Hensley Athletic Field.

A classic win-win arrangement:

• Gosford Council gets two benefits – an extra ten years out of its tips, plus a healthy rebate from the Government for the waste moved out of those tips;
• The State Government makes a packet (a breathtaking $7 million in levies from this site in just the last 18 months!); and
• Golfers of all standards get to enjoy an 18 hole golf course in a stunning quintessential Australian setting.

The pride and enthusiasm from those behind this project is contagious. Club President, Keith Robson said, “When people see what we are doing you can actually see their jaws drop! Our members have contributed fantastically – over 2500 hours of voluntary service from them. We have a great committee of practical people who find answers to every hurdle thrown up. And there have been plenty of those!”

Government regulations and charges threatening the project

Government regulation of the disposal of waste grows more onerous almost daily. Indeed, it seems monstrous overkill on a site that will only ever be used to punish a little white ball. Satisfying these requirements is costly and time consuming and threatens to derail the project. Couple that with the State Government levy which has jumped from $15.00 per tonne in 2005 to $52.40 per tonne from 1 July 2009 and these problems become real hindrances to the project.

So the Club is preparing for its next battle – why should part of its land be used to provide an estimated $50 million to the NSW Government over the life of the project, yet not one cent of that be channelled back to the Club to help it to build and maintain this public facility? Mr Robson commented, “I am sure if the politicians who make these decisions came up and saw what we are doing then they would help us. We have been the “too quiet” achievers for too long. It is time the Central Coast knew what we are doing and the State Government lent a hand. We are doing exactly what the Government wants: turning waste into a resource.”

The Club wants a small percentage of the Government levy redirected to help pay for what the Club is doing. The Club is open and welcoming. As Keith says, “We pride ourselves on being friendly and open to everyone. Our junior program is booming. Come and have a look. If you haven’t been to this course for several years you will be amazed.” And if, after a leisurely round, you announce to your playing partners that your game was “a load of old rubbish”, they can truthfully reply “just like this course!”

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