I READ with interest the recent letter from the president of the Quarry Hill Golf Club Inc. ("Quarry Hill green spaces under threat", April 2), and wish to raise the following points in aid of the club.
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When I was president of the club we went to council (then commissioners) requesting a grant or loan to reconstruct the Faugh a Ballagh Dam so the club would have a water resource. The council said it would not give one cent as there were too many golf clubs in Bendigo, and we were on our own as the club was in charge of the reserve.
The club then built the dam in the Diamond Hill reserve and obtained a 19 or 21 year lease from the Crown Lands Department over the dam site and the water race and the golf club reserve with first option on the completion of that time. So the club is the responsible body in charge of the reserve.
The lease arrangement is with the Department of Sustainability and Environment and not the City of Greater Bendigo - so, Stewart, approach the DSE and ascertain why the council is making noises about taking this public open space and holding up your agreement as to first option over the reserve.
This is a prime area of public open space with ironbark trees, close to the centre of Bendigo and used not only by golfers. The club made this course without assistance from the City of Bendigo from old mine mullock heaps and Chinese scrub by volunteers' hard work and dedication.
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