DEVELOPERS are still confident 150 permanent jobs will be created when their world-class golf facility is built between Beachport and Robe.
Adelaide developers and the property’s landowners Justin and Damian Scanlon have again outlined their hopes in a 245-page public document released this week.
The brothers announced their plans in 2014 and have since completed the Development Assessment Commission (DAC) requirement for a public environmental report on the Nora Creina golf course and resort.
The document was released for public comment in 2016 and attracted 31 submissions from government agencies, interest groups and individuals.
As part of the planning approval process, the Scanlons were obliged to prepare a formal response to the submissions, which was released this week.
The Scanlons said the potential for impacts by the Nora Creina project on Aboriginal heritage had been known for some years.
“Changes have been made to the layout of the golf courses based on the outcomes of the Aboriginal heritage survey and many of the sites have been completely avoided or only partly impacted,” they said.
“Consultation with the South East Aboriginal Focus Group has occurred and will need to continue as a cultural heritage management plan is devised, agreed and put in place.
“Significant changes made to the layout of the golf courses shown in the public environmental report to that now proposed has overcome (or at least substantially addressed) many of the issues raised by the public submissions with respect to the loss of vegetation and habitat.”
The Scanlon brothers said the Commonwealth Department of Environment submission was in respect of the endangered Little Dip Spider-Orchid and the Orange-Bellied Parrot.
“Additional work has been completed to fully assess the potential for impacts on the two listed species, including a review of the relevant recovery plans and the calculation of necessary offsets.”
Their original proposal has been modified and the amount of vegetation which needs to be cleared has been reduced from 84 to 66 hectares.
The proponents want their two 18 hole golf courses to make the “top ten” in Australia and they are modelled on the famous Barnbougle Dunes course in Tasmania.
If all goes to plan, a 36 hole course and associated practice facilities, clubhouse, dining rooms, Aboriginal heritage centre and retail outlet will be built.
Furthermore, the existing scrub and grazing land will have premium tourist accommodation with 60 rooms as well as a boutique Wagyu cattle farm and vineyard.
Two of the accommodation units will have a seven star rating.
The brothers have had approval for a land-based abalone farm since 2008, but this no longer forms part of the proposal.
Located 27km northwest of Beachport and 15km southeast of Robe, the development is earmarked for land which has been in the ownership of the family for over a decade.
By proclamation three years ago, Deputy Premier John Rau declared it to have major project status and so the usual planning and approval requirements involving Robe District Council have been set aside.
As part of the State Government’s requirements, the developers had to make allowance for water storage facilities, stormwater and sewage infrastructure for the capture, treatment and re-use of recycled water and associated infrastructure in respect of water supply, electricity, telecommunications, stormwater, effluent disposal, roads, parking and walking trails.
