Golf course developer plans hotel at Darkes Forest

Melbourne-based developer Links Living is planning to convert the Illawarra Country Club at Darkes Forest into a residential golf resort with a 100-room hotel.

The developer, which is behind the Sanctuary Lakes Resort 10km west of Melbourne, has bought the property from xxx and expects to submit its proposal to Wollongong City Council this month.

A spokesman for the company, xxxx, said the 18-hole golf course would be redeveloped as a nine-hole course with a dual set of tees. The residential component of the development would be built around the golf course.

To be known as Illawarra Ridge, the proposals includes an integrated resort clubhouse with associated golf facilities, a driving range, 200 home sites - including executive weekender suites and golf lodges – and a 100-room hotel. A spa, function centre and 100 sites for serviced apartments are also planned.

“The Illawarra Ridge will be a demonstration project of innovative design and environmental best practice drawing on the national experience of other projects such as the Sandhurst  Club which the Victorian Government uses as a showcase of recycled water,” the spokesman said.

The 55ha site, opposite Boomerang Golf Course on the Princes Highway, has been run as a public golf course for more than 50 years (check).

It was purchased for $xxx in October 2004 (check)

Links Living, formerly the Links Group, is considering a public float to finance its diversification plans beyond its Victorian base.

Links has just taken a 50 per cent stake in a joint venture with Brisbane-based Chasan in 283ha near Airlie Beach in Queensland’s Whitsundays where it is master-planning a championship golf course, more than 1600 homes, a hotel and club house. A convention centre and shopping precinct are also planned.

Links has sold home sites and golf memberships valued at more than $320 million in the 10 years it has operated. It sees itself as more sophisticated than many of the smaller players that focus on a handful of courses and even larger developers that dabble in golf-course development.

It also has a specialist management joint venture with the Australian PGA.

Links Living is involved in environmental education programs on birdlife for schools and has initiated a program called Living with Nature at its Sanctuary Lakes Resort.

The managing director of Links Living, Stephen Head, said: “The program initially aimed to provide residents and golf club members with information about the environment which is also made available to all schools and environment groups via the Internet.”