The proposal
The proposal can generally be described as a redevelopment of the Stirling Golf Club, which will include the following project components:
- the construction of tourist accommodation in a new hotel building and private retreats (pods)
- new clubhouse facility and pro-shop, administration areas and change rooms
- retention and improvements to the 18-hole golf course
- conservation works and adaptive reuse of a local heritage place to accommodate a multipurpose café, retail and function space
- car parking in the order of 200 spaces in two parking areas
- tree removal (including native vegetation) and associated landscaping.
On 15 December 2020, the proposal was declared as a ‘Major Development’ under s.46 of the Development Act 1993.
On 31 March 2022, the State Planning Commission (SPC) released Assessment Guidelines to consider the social, economic and environmental impacts of the development.
A key component of this process was the preparation of a detailed assessment by the Applicant, in the form of a Development Report (DR).
A DR was then prepared by Mount Lofty Golf Estate Pty Ltd (the Applicant) and released for public comment from 5 July 2023 to 16 August 2023.
Two public hearings were held at the Bridgewater Sports and Social Club on 25 July 2023.
Following public consultation on the proposal, submission received were provided to the applicant.
The applicant then prepared an updated DR, which included their formal response to public submissions and council and state agency referral advice.
As part of the updated DR, the proponent also amended their proposal in two main areas. Firstly, to delete the accommodation and service pods from the development (which resulted in a significant reduction in native vegetation impacts), and secondly, to commit to a series of upgrades to local service infrastructure and the selective widening of Golflinks Road (including the addition of a separate walking path on golf course land).
The State Planning Commission (SPC) considered a draft Assessment report (which included a site visit to the golf course and development areas).
The SPC Assessment report was then finalised and provided to the Minister for Planning for consideration and decision.
On 29 June 2025, the Minister for Planning resolved to approve their development, subject to reserve matters and conditions.
This decision was published in the Government Gazette on 10 July 2025.
