In September 2025 we became aware of an application to create a three-hole practice golf course on the land next Miowera Road, North Turramurra. The land comprising 8 ha on the top of a hill overlooking Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park was originally part of the Girl Guide outdoor training centre. In 2022 it was sold to the Jimwen Gallery. There was much concern that the land would be developed into suburban blocks as has happened to other land further south along Miowera Road that was owned by the Girl Guides.
Fortunately, the use of the land has been limited to the creation of a cultural centre known as the Glengarry Jinwen Gallery and conducts public exhibitions a few times a year. Development is constrained by the presence of high quality bushland below the developed part of the site that has a category 1 bushfire risk rating.
STEP’s concerns about the development related to the:
- use of synthetic turf on the putting greens in a bushfire risk zone;
- adequacy of the stormwater management system and changes to the water flows into the bushland below;
- use of an exotic grass that will require fertilisers and irrigation whereby runoff could add excess nutrients to the bushland below; and
- lack of a fauna management plan covering the construction period that involves some noisy rock breaking.
Following assessment of the submissions council required several amendments to the plans. Commencement of construction is deferred until these are completed. They included:
- planting within the raingarden must be non-invasive species;
- light-weight materials are used on pathways rather than asphalt;
- artificial turf is not permitted and must be replaced with natural turf or an organic material; and
- measures to ensure stormwater and irrigation systems protect tree root zones.