Wednesday, 17 June 2026

 Wendy LOVELL (Northern Victoria) (17:32): I rise to speak on a petition that I tabled yesterday, petition 755. This petition calls on the government to reject any proposals to rezone the Wodonga golf course for non-recreational use and ensure the long-term protection of this land under its current zoning for community recreation and environmental benefit. The online petition was signed by 5160 people, and I hope to table a paper petition with around 3000 signatures tomorrow. That is over 8000 people from Wodonga and the region who strongly oppose the misguided plan to convert Wodonga golf course from a large open green space into rows of housing. The community’s campaign has been backed by none other than Golf Australia, the peak body for golf in our country.

This is not a campaign against new housing. We all know that Victoria needs to increase its housing supply, and in fact Wodonga City Council has already identified 30 years worth of land supply for future housing. This is a campaign to save a precious recreational space that cannot be replaced. While there are many parcels of land already available for housing development, there are no suitable alternative sites for a golf course of this size within the region. Once it is gone, it is gone forever.

As this petition notes, Wodonga golf course is a vital part of the community, providing recreational, social and health benefits to a wide cross-section of the community, including families, junior golfers, walkers and local residents. Golf Australia agreed and said that Wodonga golf course is more than just a place to play golf; it is a community space that brings people together and supports local sport.

How did we reach this point where the state government is considering paving over acres of green space specifically set aside for sport and recreation in order to build more houses? The Labor government claims that councils are too slow to approve housing projects, sometimes taking two years or more. That is a bit rich coming from a Minister for Planning that has had planning schemes for the Macedon Ranges sitting on her desk for two years but still has not approved the plans that would release more land for housing in the Macedon Ranges. Labor is now expanding its development facilitation program, which allows housing developers to completely bypass local councils and ignore local voices and go straight to the planning minister for approval. This is supposed to speed up approvals. It is actually a recipe for disaster, as planning decisions are made in Melbourne by ministers and bureaucrats who never visit and know little about the regional and rural towns they change forever.

Wodonga golf course was one of seven sites chosen by the Labor government for the first phase of its unlocking strategic sites program, but the selection was made without anyone even seeing the playing greens, let alone teeing off for a round of golf. According to the government’s media release, the purpose of the program is to fast-track the rezoning of underutilised land, like former industrial land, golf courses, racetracks and surplus university sites, to build new homes sooner – sounds great. The problem is that Wodonga golf course is not underutilised: 45,000 rounds of golf were played at the course in the last 12 months. This clearly demonstrates that the site is not underutilised, nor is it unused.

A further 8000 signatures on this petition show how much the local community care about preserving this valuable asset and how strongly they reject the proposal to rezone the land. The eligibility guidelines for the unlocking strategic sites program say that proposals must demonstrate the delivery of significant and meaningful public benefits, including public open space. But instead of providing public benefits and open space, this proposal will reduce open space and take away a key community sport facility that is close to the hearts of locals. Even according to the government’s own guidelines, the Wodonga golf course is simply not an appropriate site for a fast-tracked housing project. In conclusion, this plan is a double bogey. There is simply no need to turn Wodonga golf course into rows of houses, since other land for housing has already been identified by the municipality.