Concern about fencing off St Lucia Golf course

General Information, Minutes of meetings...
A fence of approx. 500m in length is currently under construction following the perimeter of St Lucia Golf Course along Indooroopilly road.

St Lucia Golf Course is on public land and its management is by the authority of the Brisbane City Council.

The fence is an initiative of the Golf Course Management and commenced apparently without consulting either local residents or Brisbane City Council.

In the view of local residents, the fence will compromise the beauty of the area and prevent its recreational use.

Paul Bailey, Chairman of the Meeting detailed below, suggests that people who wish to protest the fence should:-
  • Phone Council on 3403 8888 and obtain a written response and Ref. no.
  • Phone the Lord Mayor's Office directly on 3403 4400
  • Email Lord Mayor Tim Quinn at Lord Mayor

Letter-Bailey to Cr Quinn 28/5/03 Friends of St Lucia Golf Course 26/5/03  
Latest News 27/5/03 pm Letter-Pegler to Cr Quinn 26/5/03  
Latest News 27/5/03 am Meeting Mansfield Park 25/5/03  
 

Letter- Paul Bailey to Cr Quinn, Lord Mayor, 28/5/03

Dear Councillor Quinn,

I was in the public gallery at the Council meeting yesterday for the purpose of hearing from you on the St Lucia Golf Links issue.
I also heard your colleague speak on the initiative of encouraging Brisbane residents to get out, get active , and use our many public spaces for recreation. I applaud you on this program, and the distribution of the brochure to residents.

It is sad, and ironic, that a decision to erect a fence around St Lucia Golf Links would deprive the local community of the largest and most used open space in the surrounding suburbs - therefore acting directly against Cr Abrams campaign.

During week days, the golf course is more used by residents for after hours walking/jogging etc than it is for golf. Apart from the occasional corporate golf day, the course is empty of golfers for much of the week, with the weekends only being busy. I am sure that with good consultation and ongoing cooperation between the community and the course management, an outcome which avoids fencing the course can be reached.

Sincerely
Paul Bailey
Indooroopilly resident
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Latest News 27 May 2003 pm

BCC Meeting

A small group of residents today attended the Council meeting at City Hall. Jane Prentice asked the Lord Mayor for assurances that the community would be consulted befor a decision on further fence construction took place.

Cr Quinn's answer can be summarised as follows:
1. absolutely guaranteed that the community would be consulted before further construction takes place.[ note the implicit "further construction"]
2 admitted the facts and circumstances are not clear cut for the erection of the fence.
3 Noted that [sic all] other golf courses had fences
4 The issue is one of public safety and public liability. He commented on the risk of people being struck by golf balls , and cited the case of children playing around in sand bunkers on the course.
Apparently Cr Quinn went to the course today , prior to the meeting .
My sentiment , after listening to Cr Quinn today , is that he is for the fence. Public/media pressure has forced him to go through due process of consultation.
We have asked for a public meeting with the Lord Mayor and his officers, but no response received yet.
I strongly urge you to maintain your efforts in lobbying Council. If we are to be successful , it will require ongoing media interest, and an active public. There are many interested residents for whom we do not have email. Please contact those you know and encourage them to write letters/contact the press , the Lord Mayor, Council Hotline etc.
Interestingly, a motion was before Council today for an extension of the clubhouse facilities [increasing capacity from 250 people to 450 people, along with associated parking , new office and sales centre. The application ,by Latfield Pty Ltd , who has operated the Clubhouse facility since 1987, will see their lease renegotiated and extended for another 26 years. The motion to approve this new arrangement was expected to be passed in Council.
Any comments or suggestions arising from the fence issue warmly welcomed .

Paul Bailey
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Latest News 27 May 2003 am

Wrap-up of today's activities

We have received excellent media coverage today- several radio interviews, as well as good coverage on TV news this evening [nine, seven and 31]. Perhaps a run in The Australian tomorrow, and further Courier coverage. Also SW News is on the case. The Lord Mayor has agreed to stop construction pending a review.

I have requested through his office a public meeting to discuss the issues and find a resolution. No response yet.

Further to advice from Jane Prentice this morning about the Council meeting tomorrow, a good turn-up for the meeting to be held at 2.00 pm would be great. Get there around 1.30 pm with your placards to meet outside City Hall in King George Square. Jane Prentice will table our petition in Question Time , which is I understand the first item on the agenda.

Our primary objective is now to engage the Council in debate, maintain our level of activity with phone calls, letters etc - we don't want it to go off the boil. Media interest will probably now drop off , unless there is a dramatic development . We must be alert for any of this, and continue to make it happen.

Paul Bailey
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Friends of St Lucia Golf Course 26 May 2003

Some suggestions (abridged) from Michael Yeates
The need for a "Friends of St Lucia Golf Course" has been on my mind for quite a while as the attached experience suggests ... and the fence simply replicates the scenario...
As I see it, BCC has inherited an extremely valuable social, cultural, and historic piece of Brisbane and with that goes responsibility to manage it accordingly.
A "Friends ..." group could be involved in the following.
1. provide a "good neighbours" forum with the course management
2. monitor and promote the positive aspects of this inheritance
3. work with the course management in a LandCare and BushCare role including assisting with the work on the course which cannot be done by Council
4. agree the management protocols for the protection of the inheritance
5. agree the management of the edges ie develop a means for managing the margins.
The most important of these are the forum (1) and the management of the edges (5).
The forum is now up to Tim Quinn to either agree to community participation or to reject it ... and that is an important issue to come out of the fence discussions with Council.
The edge management is also current as there are already a number of people or groups working along the edges.
I would suggest that these provide us useful "local" sectors but also demonstrate that, with the Forum to work through what to do and how to do it, there are already successful if uncoordinated examples and models in place.

Sectors of Concern

  • Area along the Handel Street section where on one side, DPI is doing a wonderful job whereas BCC is developing a dump, weeds, etc!
  • Riverbank where community-agency partnerships have demonstrated the benefits of this mode of operation in creating a very enjoyable walkway with bush regeneration and weed removal. This suggests that this model should be extended.
  • Along The Esplanade and Hillside Terrace where there is great potential to extend the efforts of the river sector if the efforts are agreed and co-ordinated.
  • Sandy Creek which includes the BCC properties upstream of the golf course proper and Robertson Park.
  • Indooroopilly Road frontage and the mis-management which has led to the mis-use of this area.
This is a first pass but clearly, it is urgent to have a general direction to allow this "new" partnership WITH the Council to emerge as a "win-win" from the fence debacle...
I do NOT see this as anything more than a useful means of working with BCC so all the legal, incorporation, etc "problems" should be able to be resolved quite easily without incorporating a formal entity.
At this stage, I would like to invite whoever meets with Tim Quinn and/or John Campbell to put this process in principle on the table as an ongoing BCC-community partnership ... the details to be worked through over time ... as part of resolving the future of the fence ...
Now is NOT the time for details but it IS the time to assert community ownership ... as well as making available to the Council the amazing knowledge and experience in the local community ... rather than having that interest used against Council.
I don't think Tim Quinn has done his cause any good at all by changing his position from the TV News last night to this morning on ABC 612.
Beware a politician changing responses...!

Michael Yeates  Paper on Sandy Creek by Michael Yeates
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Letter from John Pegler 26 May 2003

Councillor Tim Quinn
Lord Mayor of Brisbane
CC: Councillor Campbell Councillor Prentice Councillor Magub
Dear Councillor Quinn,
ST LUCIA GOLF COURSE FENCE
I was greatly relieved to hear on the media this morning that the Lord Mayor, Councillors and Staff had stopped activity and decided to review the position concerning the St Lucia Golf Course fence.
I thank you and others involved for that proactive stance.
Earlier, I had written to Councillor Prentice to advise that I was utterly astounded by the process leading to a decision to erect a fence of this nature. My teenage children would have used the word "gobsmacked".
I had advised Councillor Prentice of my protest and objection at the fence and the manner of it happening. Such a fence is inimical to the visual amenity of the area, unnecessarily destroys the sense of openness and freedom and physically inhibits the ability to walk freely. It is an irresponsible waste of public funds which unnecessarily changes an open space which I understand was donated to the community by one of its members many years ago.
I requested Councillor Prentice (and through her, both you and Councillor John Campbell) to take urgent action to cause
(i) the work on the fence to stop immediately;
(ii) the matter to be investigated and reviewed by Council before fencing recommences;
(iii) the community to be consulted before recommencement of work is considered, if indeed any justification for a fence of this kind can be found.
Yesterday and this morning, I attended a resident-led public meeting at which indignation ran to the point of inquiring whether injunctive relief on behalf of residents against some or all of the Council, Councillors, the "City Businesses" or the St Lucia Golf Course. It was decided that residents should commence with a more temperate approach, and it is a relief that your own stance and that of Councillor Campbell has vindicated this moderation, at least for now.
Even so, it is worth also raising with you and with Councillor Campbell the questions I raised with Councillor Prentice. These were:
What are the approval steps in the decision process leading to the erection of this fence?
What consultative steps are required (i) of a property owner or proponent and (ii) of the approving authority/authorities?
What authorities (including State Government authorities) must be involved in this decision?
What planning and environment review has taken place to ensure that there is no undue effect on water movement along the floodplain areas on parts of the Golf Course? What review of cultural heritage has taken place, especially in the light of the manner in which the land for the Golf Course was donated to the community as an open space, and the residents' expectations, community standards and previous Council decisions that such open spaces remain unfenced?
What has been done to ensure that the public interest is served by a fence of this nature?
What omissions have occurred in these processes?
What steps need now be taken to have the fence removed?
What recourse is available to residents if dissatisfied with a Council decision or if it is believed that an inquiry is necessary into the propriety or legality of a Council decision?
Does any resident now have the same rights as Council (or its "City Businesses") to erect a two metre high black chainwire fence (or any other fence of his or her choosing) across the front or other boundaries of his or her property without consultation with neighbours, the Council or any statutory authority?
At the meetings yesterday in Gilgandra Park and again this morning at the site of the fence, I was further astounded by what is clearly a loss of control and stewardship of the assets of the Ratepayers and Residents of Brisbane by the Council. It seems clear that a consequence of "corporatisation" of "City Businesses" is a system of governance in which transparency to Councillors, Ratepayers and Residents is lost. Along with this inadequacy of corporate governance, the accountability of "corporate" management to consult with and respond to the needs of Ratepayers, Residents and Neighbours has also been eliminated. (An audit of senior management position descriptions and performance appraisals would be an appropriate way for Councillors to address this point). This of course is part or your inheritance as the new Lord Mayor, rather than your doing. This provides an opportunity and I do ask that you elevate consideration of this aspect of governance generally in the deliberations of Council. Some may say, "This is just an isolated occurrence!" but in cases of breakdown of organisational systems such as this, it is much more likely to find that the underlying behaviour is endemic. Denigration of open spaces is a serious and pervasive issue. The St Lucia Golf Course issue is today's example.
I look forward with anxious interest to your advice as to how this fence can remain stopped and investigated, how the matters should best be addressed, just as importantly, how the matters of principle concerning open spaces will be addressed, and in due course, how the issues of Council organisation and governance will be addressed.
Yours faithfully,
John H. Pegler Property Owner, Ratepayer, Resident and Enjoyer of Open Spaces Walter Taylor Ward
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Meeting at Mansfield Park 25 May 2003

MINUTES OF PUBLIC MEETING IN MANSFIELD PARK
Re: Fencing of St. Lucia Golf Course
Present: Cr. Jane Prentice
Approx. 75 local residents + children
Media
Paul Bailey (Chairman):
1. Purpose of meeting:
To gauge public opinion
He had notified Cr. Prentice and the media, so the issue had widespread publicity.
Petition to go the Lord Mayor
2. Background:
St. Lucia is a public course, and has existed for decades without the need for public fencing.
It has served as an after-hour recreation centre
It is aesthetically pleasing, being open park-like land
3. Facts behind the decision:
Contact with the club revealed their reasons for fencing
Re: dogs Local vets contacted said they never had any local wildlife brought into them as a result of dogs on the golf course.
Public opinion at the meeting- None of those reasons can be justified by the club.
4. Consultation:
Had the club consulted with the public, they would have received a resounding "No".
Called this urgent meeting to stop the fence tomorrow, and encourage consultation
Invitation to all present to register their disapproval by whatever means
Introduced Cr. Prentice
Cr. Prentice:
5. Reiterated that there had been no consultation with the Council. Up until this time, Council's understanding was that the pegs along Indooroopillly Rd. were to do with sewerage.
6. Her understanding was that the space would always be open for the enjoyment of the public, a point echoed to her by Sally-Anne Atkinson. She was appalled by the lack of consultation, and urged the signing of the petition
7. If the golf course had any problems (e.g. dogs), why didn't it make them public? Why do we need a fence to remedy them?
8. Regarding extent of fence:
Referred to Paul Bailey, who said it was his understanding that this section (along Indooroopilly Rd.) is only stage 1. That it was to continue along Hillside Tce. etc.
9. The Works Dept. of Brisbane City Council had no knowledge of the fence, and furthermore, that it seems strange that private residences require Council approval for fencing, whereas none was sought by the Golf Club, to her knowledge.
10. John Campbell (spelling?)- Chairman of City Business is currently looking into the issue.
David Muir:
11. Referred to the green vista created by the golf course
12. He raised the introduction of the Civil Liability Act, which makes it difficult for people to sue the golf club.
Michael Yeates: 13. Referred to the fact that the golf course is being managed to suit golfers, and not nature.
The golf club is a private commercialised business.
In 1995, Sandy Creek was transformed into a drain, with no consultation
Handel St. has become a dumping site for the Council- instead of spending money on the fence, they should be spending it on environmental issues.
14. The pegs for the fence were put in around 6th January 2003, and at that time he asked Jane Prentice to check on what was going on- political process ignored.
15. Possible suggestions:
Walter Taylor North email group could be used to coordinate response
Friends of St. Lucia Golf Course to take active interest in golf course environment.
Paul Bailey:
15. We need to stop it now. Immediate action required.
Cr. Prentice:
16. raised possibility of injunction referred to lawyers present (Fred Lippiatt, Graham Hiley, David Muir) who all agreed that an injunction was not appropriate, because there need to be a specific interest or right that is affected. A meeting member questioned why the Council could not be involved in the injunction.
Susan Martin:
17. The Envionmental Protection Authority (EPA) should be made aware of the issue in order to garner support.
18. The land on which the golf course stands was given freely to the people of Brisbane, and the intention was for the public to have access to it.
Alan Vickers: 19. Agreed with Susan that the EPA should be contacted first thing Monday 26th.
Cr. Prentice: 20. Reiterated the view of the Council that the pegs were to do with water supply and sewerage.
Resident of Garema St.:
21. Raised the issue of noise from the golf club- that if the club was paying no heed to public opinion regarding the fence, that residents affected by the noise could take action against the club under the Queensland Tourism, Racing and Fair Trading.
Cr. Prentice:
22. Urged people to contact the Brisbane City Council Call Centre (Ph: 3403 8888) today to register their complaint against the golf club.
Paul Bailey:
23. Called for volunteers to be part of a committee to coordinate action.
Members: Susan Martin, Graham Hiley, Andrew Hackworth, Michael Yeates, John Pengler, Colleen (PR). Thankyou to everybody for attending.
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