While the study found that golf may be a viable option, we first need to understand the views of the community. This is why Council is seeking your feedback on how you might use the site now and in the future. Your thoughts on the options will help to determine what best meets the community’s needs. We want to understand your views on the possible options – your feedback will help inform the overall decision.

Council will consider many sources of information to decide the future of this site including costs and financial feasibility, risks, benefits, community needs and impacts – community feedback is one source that will help guide the decision

Council is continuing to research options to continue golf on site, which includes testing community sentiment, and market testing. If golf is found to not be the most suitable option for the site, we will assess other options. The Feasibility Study identified Open Space options for the site, including Passive Space or Active Open Space. These options may be explored if golf is not the most suitable option for the future of the site.

In May 2023, the Pakenham Golf Club went into voluntary administration with significant debt. In October 2023, Golf Services Management (GSM) commenced a two-year management agreement.

The Pakenham Golf Course closed at the end of March 2025, after GSM advised they would end their management agreement. Council and GSM worked closely to consider options for GSM to continue managing the course. Unfortunately, there was no financially viable options for both Council and GSM and they have therefore made the financial decision not to enter the second term of their contract.

Operating and maintaining Pakenham Golf Course has been financially challenging. Independent audits found irrigation failures and a persistent weed infestation affecting play. Industry experts advise that major investment is needed due to infrastructure failures not identified before GSM’s lease. The weed cannot be easily treated and may require complete replacement of affected greens. Fixing the irrigation, greens, and fairways is estimated to cost $1.9 million.

While golf remains viable, it will require significant investment to restore greens and infrastructure. The feasibility study outlines these costs, and the costs of other options in detail.

As part of the process, Council will be assessing these financial impacts before deciding next steps.

The study was required under Ministerial state planning guidelines to ensure any change in golf course land use benefits the community and considers public land needs, long-term planning, and environmental impacts.

The $15M is the total estimated investment Council has made in the site since 2017. The amounts listed in the Summary Documents are noted as additional investment needed to reopen the course with varying levels of amenity. The required funding and investment is yet to be confirmed.

If golf is continued, Council will consider options for the funding and management of golf on site. Decisions about how the site will be managed in future are not part of this engagement.

While community can comment on the estimated cost for each option, funding is subject to budget allocation and/or market interest in the site and will be further determined in future as part of Council’s investigations. Final funding allocations for all options are outside the scope of this engagement.

Flood overlay and drainage constraints are well known and will not be the focus of this engagement. Any option considered will take flooding and drainage into consideration.

In Victoria, Australia, the redevelopment of golf courses is guided by the Planning Guidelines for the Conversion of Golf Course Land to Other Purposes and Ministerial Direction 21. The Planning guidelines for the conversion of golf course land to other purposes provide a clear and consistent pathway for golf course redevelopment. They aim to ensure that any redevelopment delivers a net community benefit and considers factors like public land requirements, strategic planning, and environmental impacts.

The Guidelines can be found at planning.vic.gov.au/guides-and-resources/guides/all-guides/golf-course-redevelopment

All possible options identified in the feasibility study will have minimal impact on the continued operation of the café, playground, BBQ facilities, walking tracks, wetlands, trails and interpretive signage and the plant nursery. The southern section of Deep Creek Reserve will continue to be delivered as planned under the existing masterplan, and the existing lease with the Cardinia Environment Coalition will remain in place.

We encourage residents and the wider community to continue to visit and enjoy the Deep Creek Eco Play space, wetlands and kickabout area which remain open. The public toilets are also available for the community.

The purpose of this engagement is to understand community views on the three different options. Combinations of uses are not being considered by Council at this time.

Council is not currently considering rezoning or selling the site. The option to sell the land is not considered viable because there is demand for golf, the course is economically viable, and there are local active open space needs. While there have been past proposals to rezone the site, these have been rejected.

The study identified three options for the site.

In the feasibility study, each option has been compared based on the extent to which it achieves the goals in Council’s adopted plans, the cost to implement the option, and the impacts of the option. A summary of the three options is outlined below.

As part of the Active Cardinia Strategy, respondents to the community survey indicated participation in a wide range of sport and active recreation activities. Golf was the 10th activity by frequency of participation.  

Through the work we did to develop the Active Cardinia Strategy we know that across the shire there is a forecast deficit of 9 AFL ovals, 26 soccer fields, 11 stadium courts and 1 baseball field by 2041. Specifically, in the growth corridor that deficit is 12 ovals, 20 soccer fields, 15 tennis courts, 8 netball courts, 2 bowling greens, 1 hockey field, and 7 stadium courts by 2041.  Council has planned works for Gin Gin Bin Recreation Reserve, Officer and McMullen Reserve, Officer and anticipates sporting reserves being developed in Pakenham East prior to additional sporting facilities being considered at Deep Creek Reserve.

The strategy supports initiatives that expand opportunities for participation in sport by women and girls, young people, older adults, culturally diverse communities, LGBTQIA+ communities, First Nations Peoples, people with disabilities, and individuals with lower physical activity levels. Deep Creek Reserve is well located to help expand opportunities for these groups. 

The Cardinia Open Space Strategy has identified Deep Creek Reserve as the largest open space in the Pakenham profile area. The total provision of open space in the Pakenham profile area exceeds the benchmark of 5ha/1,000 residents for the current and forecast population. The current provision is 7.4ha/1,000 residents. This provision would increase by approximately 15% if the Pakenham Golf Course became passive open space. 

The current provision of active open space is below the benchmark of 2ha/1,000 residents. To meet this benchmark, an additional 71ha of active open space is needed, which increases to 85ha by 2031 with population growth. 

At the close of engagement, Council will consider the feedback alongside other information and research. An engagement report will be compiled by an independent organisation and made available to community. Council is aiming to make a decision on this phase of the project late 2025.