Course Development
CEMETERY A DEAD CERTAINTY FOR
GOLF CLUB SITE AT WALLACIA
Wallacia golf course could be no more as early as
next year with Catholic Metropolitan Cemeteries
Trust set to acquire the 44 hectare site.
Currently branded Panthers Wallacia, the golf
club and course has become the latest target for
a cemetery, as demand for burial sites in Sydney
continues to grow.
And while club members, Councillors and nearby
residents are set to fight the plan, sources tell the
Weekender their efforts are likely to be fruitless.
On Monday night, Penrith Council unanimously
voted to support a planning proposal that
prohibits the development of cemeteries and
crematoriums in the Mulgoa Valley and Wallacia
areas by making amendments to Penrith’s Local
Environmental Plan.
Councillors Bernard Bratusa, Ross Fowler
and Marcus Cornish passionately spoke at
the meeting to protect Mulgoa and Wallacia,
and were met with applause from community
members that filled the chambers.
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A member of the Wallacia club since the early
1990s, Cr Bratusa fought back tears as he spoke
against the possible development of the golf club
site into a cemetery.
“Fernhill and Wallacia were never ever meant to
be cemeteries, and it will undoubtedly be a scar,”
he said.
“This is an emotional roller coaster. For a lot of
people it was completely unexpected and I’m not
looking to point fingers of blame, I’m looking to
find a positive resolution for the region.”
The Wallacia site was sold to property developer
Lou Zivanovic in 2014, who then leased the golf
club back to Panthers.
That lease is up at the end of February, and
Panthers will not be given the opportunity to
renew it. Financial issues have plagued the
Wallacia club for some time.
The Golf Marketing Professionals I www.golfindustrycentral.com.au