St Lucia Golf Course – Alternatives to a Fence

This is a statement of local residents’ concerns about the proposed construction of a perimeter fence around the St Lucia Golf Course, and suggestions for alternative ways of reducing the risk of injury from golf balls and other hazards in the area.

OUR CONCERNS

The Golf Course is used directly by a large number of other people besides golfers, for walking, jogging and dog exercising in the open air, and for the general observation and enjoyment of nature – the birds, trees, creek and other wildlife.

In addition, all local residents, golfers, visitors and those who drive along Indooroopilly Road and Hillside Terrace enjoy the natural, park-like landscape of the Golf Course, Robertson’s Park and Sandy Creek as it flows into the Brisbane River.

The great majority of these users recognise that golfers are using the course during the daytime, understand the layout of the course and keep out of the golfers’ way, either by using the course before or after the golfers or by staying in the shelter of stands of trees.

Local residents understand that the Brisbane City Council needs to take reasonable care to prevent accidents occurring on and around the Golf Course. However, local residents consider that a fence around all or part of the Golf Course would be an eyesore and would do nothing to reduce accidents.

ALTERNATIVES TO FENCING

There are other ways in which the risk of a golf ball hitting a person can be reduced. Local residents would consider any or all of these to be more reasonable and more effective than a fence.

§ Plant many more native trees and bushes around the margins, along fairways and at other strategic areas around the course.

§ Use tree-planting, landscaping and existing stands of trees to create walking tracks around and across the course, away from fairways, screened from tees and greens, and with marked entry points on the boundary.

§ Mark the boundary of the course with a line of bollards.

§ Put up signs on the boundary advising people that they are entering a Golf Course where there are various hazards, and that they do so at their own risk.

§ Make it clear that golf occurs legally on the course between certain hours, and make the course an open park at all other times.

If the Golf Course land was managed in these ways, local residents would accept the risk of sharing the area with golfers. They would be willing to indemnify the Council against injuries that occur in the area, in the same way, presumably, that golfers do already.

The local community would like to see a thorough Management Plan prepared and published for the whole area of Sandy Creek, and would be keen to contribute to such a Plan. It should cover the Golf Course land, road margins, neighbouring government-owned land, Robertson’s Park and the main River esplanade, and should set out in detail how the area will be operated and maintained for its natural amenity values and for the use and enjoyment of the various groups of stakeholders – local residents, golfers, walkers, runners, cyclists, and naturalists visiting the creek, wetlands and bush areas.

Local residents urge the Council to implement measures such as these, rather than a fence. They would be effective, cheaper and would enhance the natural amenity of the area rather than degrade it. Local residents would be happy to assist the Council and Golf Course operator with tree-planting, weeding and other types of maintenance. Such a partnership in co-management of an attractive park is far preferable to confrontation over a futile and ugly fence.