Members, we write to update on a couple of important matters at VGC.
Club Directorships
As some Members will be aware, Ian Squires, who has been a Director of the Club for 5 years and most recently the Course Director for the past 2 years, has relocated to Bribie Island and has reluctantly resigned from the Club’s Board of Directors effective from 31st August. We thank Ian for his support of VGC as a Director, long term course volunteer along with being the Clubs volunteer plumber for many years, who, along with Ann, has made a very significant contribution to VGC. They will both be sorely missed by their many friends at VGC.
In the interim period until the Club’s Annual General meeting is held in late November, the Board have appointed our current Vice Captain Corey Stafford to the Course Director role as a replacement for Ian, and have invited VGC Member Scott Payne to join the Board acting as Vice Captain for the period until the 2025 AGM. I would also like to thank those other members who have offered to serve the Club as an interim Director.
Course – 50 Year Lease extension.
The Club has enjoyed the support of the State Government (Department of Natural Resources and Mines, Manufacturing and Regional and Rural Development) for many years in the provision of a long term lease on the land covering holes 3 through 12 on the Main course and the entire Heritage 9 course, with the current 50 year lease due to expire in 2035.
In the conduct of a strategic review of longer term risks for VGC, the Club identified that the potential of a future Government and/or Council to refuse a further lease extension on this land (such as Moore Park in Sydney and Victoria Park in Brisbane examples) was a significant potential risk, with some likelihood of occurrence and if so, this would have a very significant impact on the future of VGC beyond 2035. In considering this potential risk, and also to underwrite the future capital expenditure on the leased land, the Club’s Board & Management decided that we should revisit the lease issue and seek a further 50 year extension. It is also relevant that this decision to seek a lease extension at this time was made also in part to provide sufficient time to respond should there be reluctance on behalf of the Department to issue a lease extension.
This exercise has required significant effort from VGC staff over the past 12 months, firstly to gain Department agreement for the Club to make an early application for the lease extension and once agreed, to then formally seek a further 50 year lease extension.
We are delighted to advise Members that we have recently received confirmation that the Department has granted VGC a further a 50 year lease from August 2025, taking our lease through to end July 2075.
The Club’s Board acknowledges the work and effort of VGC Management in this significant achievement which underpins the future of VGC for a further 50 years.
Noel McLean
VGC President
