Friends of Federal Fairways were successful in having their application to ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal to set aside the Territory Planning Authority’s approval of the upmarket operator’s development approval to reconfigure the golf course for a 125-dwelling retirement village. The process commenced in October 2015.
Federal Golf Club President Regina Neary told members in an email the decision was disappointing but acknowledged there were environmental matters to be resolved, adding the administrative matters involving the application forms had the effect of the DA not being considered ‘made’ and therefore not able to be approved.
“Mbark and the board will consider its next steps on this decision, including its rights of appeal in the ACT Supreme Court,” Regina said.
“While this decision is disappointing, there remains a further application for the retirement village under assessment by the ACT Planning Authority. We will continue to update members with its progress and any actions relating to the recent Tribunal decision.”
Mbark director David Consalvi said the company was prepared for other ways to make the development work.
David said the Tribunal’s finding that the DA was not correctly made due to an issue with signatures on the application form, is an unfortunate outcome for this application, but it could be readily rectified for any future applications.
“Whilst we are seeking to understand the options available for this current proposal following the Tribunal decision, we continue to work on other aspects of our existing approvals to ensure we are ready on all fronts should we have an approval for the project confirmed,” he said.
“We believe that the current proposal represents the optimal balance for the village between the environmental considerations, the sustainability of the golf club, local resident interests and those of the future residents of the village.
“As designed, it will be a timely contribution to the much-needed social infrastructure of the local area. If it can’t be delivered in the form proposed, the planning controls on the site would allow us to consider other options for the village design.”
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