Sale of Joondalup Country Club effective March 1

The new owners of the Joondalup Country Club will officially take possession of the golf course, its facilities and adjacent sites on March 1, 1992.

Planning Minister David Smith today announced the sale to Cremorne Investments, Whale Beach Investments, Edge Cliff Investments and Grovestyle Australia.

"The purchase price of $21 million includes the cost of protecting existing members' rights," he said.

"Club members' interests have been protected by assigning the current access agreement between the golf club and Joondalup Development Corporation to the purchasers.

"Annual subscriptions for existing members will remain below $1,000, at least until the end of the 1993-94 financial year.

"Any later increases will be limited to comparable rates charged at similar golf courses."

Mr Smith said the contract also ensured the public would have access to the golf course.

"Design work for the development of the international standard club house and condominiums has begun," he said.

"The purchasers are keen to proceed to the construction stage as soon as possible, subject to JDC and Wanneroo City Council approval.

"They want to ensure the existing high development standards in the area are maintained."

Mr Smith said the sale of the club would achieve three major objectives.

"It will create new employment and business opportunities at Joondalup specifically and in the northern suburbs generally," he said.

"It will attract an increased number of tourists and residents which will, in turn, attract new businesses and help existing businesses.

"Thirdly, it will release capital funds, thereby helping develop new community facilities in the Joondalup area at earlier dates than would otherwise be the case."

Mr Smith said it was expected that $80 million would be injected into the project.

"The Joondalup Infrastructure Working Group, chaired by Jackie Watkins, is looking at civic, cultural and community facilities needed in the area," he said.

"It will make recommendations about priority developments, development time frames and possible funding arrangements.

"I intend asking the group to examine ways of creating local employment opportunities in this process."

Mr Smith said the State Government's commitment to the rapidly expanding northern corridor remained firm.

"The Government and the JDC will continue providing significant resources for community developments in conjunction with the Wanneroo City Council," he said.