“Retain Eastern At Doncaster (READ) group attempted to present the alternative to relocation which would keep The Eastern Golf Club in its location at Doncaster. Neighbourhood gatherings to show support to the members were held, Local Government and expert consultation was made and support gained especially from Manningham City Council, MP Mary Wooldridge and Councillors. Provision for water was explored and planned for – water was the significant resource needed to build a sustainable future for the club.”,

So if not the need for water resources why else would Eastern consider relocation? 

FYI  Hertiage Golf Club (not more than 5km away from Eastern’s proposed relocation) is currently in receivership so what makes Eastern think that they would be any more successful with their club even if it did relocate to Yering????????????????????????????

Sorry to take the wind out of your sails but you are the person that is illformed in this matter.  The majority of the subject site (215 Victoria Rd, Yering) is in a flood indundation zone which makes it a catchment area for the Yarra River.  The current flood indundation zone will be converted into a golf course which will be maintained by pestisides and herbisides which will flow directly into the Yarra River during times of high water levels.   What you also fail to acknowledge is that there are a number of threatened species located at the site including, but not resitricted to, the Growling Grass Frog.  Futhermore, the site contains the location of the very first Euorpean settlement in the Yarra Valley and many artifacts related to that settlement can be found at the property.  The site is of significant ecological, flora, fauna and historical significance.  Who is the one that needs to get their facts right?????

The Golf club has been very open in its declaration that it will do all it can to maintain the River and it’s environs in the state that the current owners have kept it i.e the maintenance of a a large nature reserve adjoining the Yering Gorge and the continution of the planting in line with the Healthy Rivers and Ribbons of Green programs which has already involved the revegetation of the Yarra Bank with over 4000 indigenous plants. It is a pity more landowners have not followed these environmental credentials.

If Paint Pony had been a little more thorough with his/her research then it would have been established that the proposed Golf courses which are so demonized have no intention of taking ANY water from the Yarra but are instead intending to make use of the Melbourne Water “Class B” recycled water that is produced in Lilydale and will be made available for various sporting grounds, vineyards and commercial nurseries in the Yarra Valley. This seems to be a great use of previously wasted water and will have no detrimental affects on the environmental flow or water quality of the Yarra River. In addition the extensive native plantings associated with the proposed Golf course will only enhance and maintain the “broad acre” environmental nature of the area so important to the maintenance of a “green wedge” and a healthy Yarra River ecosystem which supports abundant native flora and fauna.

We all want a healthy and sustainable Yarra River but going off half cocked without presenting the full environmental picture only serves to fuel unnecessary and ill informed hysteria. I suggest that Paint Pony and others do their research throughly before stirring the pot!