Dick, my first approach to govt. was exactly as you say; that they could create an iconic recreation 'island', largely funded by a publically owned&operated golf course, certainly among Australia's top 5 public courses. I showed them a wide range of successfully developed municipal courses, & wanted to manage the project to ensure the quality matched the potential & delivered viability, & that the best public & environmental out outcomes were achieved. While they (Dept.ofParks&Wildlife) could see the public benefit, they had no interest on embarking into something like this, so suggested a lease, knowing they will still control the property & the public's enjoyment of it, as well as the enviro-rehab, through the conditions, reviews & EMP in the lease.
When one looks at the management objectives of this recreation&conservation reserve, we'll be meeting the criteria in spades- a relief for them in times of declining funding-as Parks have to compete against public health& education for every dollar. Just as ParksCanada are now tendering out the management of H'land Links, this will be much the same- a privately operated, public facility, governed by the terms of a lease that is struck to ensure Parks' objectives are achieved.