CastleCove Country Club Redevelopment
Learn more about the CastleCove Country Club redevelopment
The CastleCove Country Club is continuing to plan for its future, to ensure the Club remains relevant and viable to both its members and the local community. Since initial community consultation in 2021, the Club has undergone continued planning and design, which has been guided by the community-led vision and principles for the project, and consultation with Willoughby City Council.
The project’s vision is to revitalise the CastleCove Country Club as a thriving, welcoming hub where people come to be active, enjoy the outdoors and connect with each other, as part of an integrated community that can support the long term financial sustainability of the Club.
Delivering this vision will realise valuable benefits for the local community and our members, including:
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A new well-designed club house with better indoor and outdoor spaces, pro shop and golf club facilities
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A new dining experience for all, alongside better parking facilities and seamless accessibility
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Boutique independent housing options for senior residents who wish to maintain their connection to the local community.
The proposed development is contained within the privately-owned club house site, including the open air bitumen car park.
The Club and its development partner Taylor Developments Group (“Taylor”) are preparing a Development Application to lodge with Willoughby City Council over the coming months.
It is hoped that the revitalised Club will provide a new community meeting place for locals and club members to come together, connect and socialise. The project team is looking forward to sharing details of the project and would appreciate feedback from locals before the DA is lodged with Council.
Questions and feedback
If you have any questions or would like to get in touch with the project team, please contact:
consultation@ethosurban.com
1800 870 549 (during business hours)
CastleCove Country Club redevelopment FAQs
About the project
Why is the CastleCove Country Club (the Club) being redeveloped?
While the Club has flourished and evolved over the years, it has also faced challenges to remain relevant and viable to both its members and the local community. The Club accrued losses in several prior years and while close to breakeven of late and at present, it has limited funds available for necessary improvements and maintenance to the club house and golf course.
Redevelopment of the Club will help secure the longevity of the Club, and will also provide a greatly improved offering to members and the wider Castle Cove community. Renewal of the Club will also ensure the golf course remains a well-maintained, high quality green space for the local area.
What is the vision for the project?
Our vision is to revitalise the CastleCove Country Club as a thriving, welcoming hub where people come to be active, enjoy the outdoors and connect with each other, as part of an integrated community that can support the long term financial sustainability of the not-for-profit Club.
Delivering this vision will realise valuable benefits for the local community and our members, including:
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A new well-designed club house with better indoor and outdoor spaces, pro shop and golf club facilities
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A new dining experience for all, alongside better parking facilities and seamless accessibility
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Independent housing options for senior residents who wish to maintain their connection to the local community.
Who is delivering the project?
Development manager, Taylor Developments Group, (“Taylor”) has partnered with the Club to lead the project. Taylor is a locally based, leading Tier 2 development and construction business. As both a development and construction manager, Taylor has an in depth understanding of the construction and delivery process and methodology, and how to best deliver projects within community locations.
The broader project team comprises leading local architects, town planners and relevant technical specialists to ensure a high quality of design and project delivery, in line with the expectations of the Club and community.
What does the redevelopment include?
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A new two-storey club house building in the location of the existing carpark off Deepwater Road, which includes ground level parking and one floor of club house facilities, including a publicly accessible food and beverage offering, golf pro shop, changerooms, office and meeting spaces, and club storage facilities
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A new two-three-storey seniors’ living building, in the location of the existing club building, comprising 17 seniors living residences
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Dedicated off-street car parking for both the club house (approximately 78 spaces) and the seniors’ living residences and their visitors (approximately 26 spaces), as part of the new buildings
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Demolition of the existing club building and bitumen carpark
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Outdoor landscaping and tree planting.
Seniors living residences
Do we need more seniors living in the area?
Yes, there is a need for more housing, and diversity of housing choice, in the local area. The project will provide homes for those aged 60 and over, who are wishing to downsize, be close to family, or be close to the golf course and other club amenities.
While there is another seniors housing development close to us that we are not involved with in any way, there continues to be an undersupply of seniors housing in the local area.
How will the seniors living residences be managed? What will be the relationship between residences and the Club?
It is envisaged that the seniors living residences will be an extension of the Club community. The residences will be strata titled (owned by each occupier), with a standard Owners’ Corporation in place. There will not be a third-party operator of the residences due to the small scale nature of the project.
The Club is invested in forming a collaborative relationship with future Owners’ Corporation to support the ongoing sustainability and management of the Club, and its relationship with future neighbours.
Club house
What will the new club house include?
The new club house proposes to include a ground floor covered carpark and club house facilities on level 1. More specifically the club house is planned to include:
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78 car spaces and bicycle parking at ground level
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Direct lift access between the carpark and level 1
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A new food and beverage offering with indoor and outdoor seating, including spaces for functions and local meetings
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A new golf pro shop, club offices and storage facilities
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New bathroom and changeroom facilities
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Secure storage for golf buggies and carts.
Will there be any spaces available to hire? What about events?
The Club is currently exploring options to make spaces at the Club, including the food and beverage offering, available for exclusive or partial hire by local organisations and members of the community. It is envisaged that the restaurant would be a welcoming space for members, visitors and locals alike, and we’re looking to find arrangements that best balance these needs.
Local impacts
How will the operational impacts be managed?
Design of the new club house and seniors living residences has carefully considered operational impacts by:
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Orientating communal areas, including the dining areas, away from Deepwater Road and towards the golf course, as to limit noise projection or carrying of sound
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Providing direct, internal access between the covered parking and the club house to minimise pedestrian thoroughfare around the club house entrance and Deepwater Road
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Preparing detailed Operational Management Plans to set out protocols for managing the dining area and club house
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Being consistent with the existing Castle Cove Golf Course Plan of Management, as required by Council.
The Club is committed to being a good neighbour and will continue to work with the local community to refine its operational management planning. The project team would like to hear about any potential concerns, with a view to collaboratively working through possible solutions.
How will the construction impacts be managed?
The CastleCove Country Club and Taylor are committed to being good neighbours throughout construction, delivery and operation of the project. Construction impacts, including noise, dust and vibration, will be managed in accordance with a detailed Construction Management Plan, which is required to be lodged with Council ahead of any works commencing.
During the construction phase, the Club and Taylor will continue to provide updates to community members and ensure neighbours have access to direct lines of communication with the project team to ask questions, raise concerns and provide feedback.
Golf course and Club operations
Will there be any changes to the golf course?
There will be no changes to the golf course itself as part of this proposed redevelopment. The new club house and seniors living residences will be contained to the existing clubhouse and car park site. The not-for-profit club is hopeful that following the redevelopment of the site there will be funds available to reinvest into improvements of the golf course itself.
Will the tennis courts be impacted? Any upgrades to the tennis courts?
The tennis courts at the Club will be temporarily impacted by the project, to enable both an interim parking solution during construction and a separate program of tennis court upgrade and tennis club house renewal.
The tennis courts will be used as interim car parking during the construction period, and the tennis club house will be used as a temporary golf pro shop. It is anticipated that this will be the interim arrangement for the duration of the construction period, which is approximately 19 months.
Following construction, the tennis courts are planned to be resurfaced/upgraded and the club house refurbished to provide a high-quality facility for the local community. This work will be subject to a separate planning process with Willoughby City Council.
The CastleCove Country Club has been working with the tennis pro who runs the tennis school to discuss transition arrangements to ensure all existing lessons and groups are able to continue operating at nearby courts.
Planning process
What kind of planning application is being prepared? Who is determining the decision?
Taylor and the Club are currently preparing a Development Application for the project, which will be submitted to Willoughby City Council. The proposal will then be assessed by Council who will provide a recommendation report to the decision-making body – the Sydney North Planning Panel. The Panel will then determine the DA as the project’s value is over $30 million.
