Calling Mike Clayton! Found this article in the local press this morning. After such significant improvements over the last few years could Portsea be on the move?? And plans on paper yet??
Portsea club on collision courseBy MARK DUNN23 July 2002A
PROPOSAL to bulldoze Portsea's golf course and cash in on a residential development has neighbours in one of Australia's most expensive postcodes taking swings at each other.Some at the prestigious club are in favour of selling the course to developers and re-building the club on a section of Defence Force land offered for sale adjoining Point Nepean. The 300ha tract of crown land is estimated to be worth $1 billion but conservationists, residential developers, local heavyweights and the State Government are all to demand a slice of the site. The 79-year-old Portsea Golf Club, under the directorship of 11 of the district's men, most of them linked to Melbourne's business world, is at odds over whether the historic course should be moved. Club secretary Kenneth Manders said the situation would be discussed by members this Sunday but it was too early to say if the club would move, or whether two courses may operate side by side. "Who knows what the future will hold," he said. If the club does not move, it may miss the opportunity to become what course designers say would be one of the top five links courses in the country. Club co-director Ian Ogilvy said any relocation would be voted on by most of the 800 members, who pay about $1500 a year. Mr Ogilvy said 25 per cent of club members backed relocation, 25 per cent were against and 50 per cent were undecided. The club has been told uses for the divested crown land would have to meet strict environmental and community concerns. "They are not necessarily going to sell to the highest bidder," Mr Ogilvy said. He said a move from the established course "might be to our advantage", especially if a competitor was to bid for the site. "It is something we need to take note of," he said. Real estate agents also want a piece of the action, saying at least the cliff-top views from Portsea's township to the old commandant's barracks should be available for prestige homes. Any developments on the southern flank facing Bass Strait are limited because of unexploded ordinance. Agent Liz Jensen of Kay and Burton estimates 80 1010 sq m (quarter acre) lots on tiered streets along the ridge would go for millions each and sit nicely with a new course. She pictures an exclusive development along the lines of La Perouse at Botany Bay in NSW. "It's logical to me, it makes sense . . . they would have amazing views," Ms Jensen said. But getting concessions from naturalists and a Defence Department eager to be seen to do the right thing will not be easy. "This is going to be a long, drawn-out saga," she said. Those with interests in developing the land are yet to show their hands, but the rumour mill is already running hot. "If you go to the bar at the Portsea Hotel late at night they'll say Lindsay Fox is interested in it, but it's just rumour," Ms Jensen said. "I was talking to someone on the weekend who owns one of Australia's biggest companies and he was saying it won't happen (more cliff-top residences) because the Federal Government can't be seen to be so capitalist."