While the world watched a sell-out LIV golf tournament in Adelaide, another Australian regional course has gone to the wall with Cardinia Shire Council announcing Deep Creek Golf Club in Pakenham, Victoria, has gone into voluntary administration.
Deep Creek Golf Club, which only opened its new clubhouse in 2019, has ceased trading and the golf course will remain closed until further notice. Deep Creek Golf Association has appointed Matthew Kucianski of Worrells as the voluntary administrator of the golf club which had 20 employees and about 350 members at the time of the announcement. The club operates the bistro, lounge, golf course and driving range.
“This is a difficult time for everyone involved, and we will do our utmost to support all stakeholders throughout the process,” Kucianski said. “Our team is committed to ensuring that the process is conducted in a professional and transparent manner, and that all parties are kept informed of developments as they arise.”
Cardinia Shire Council had provided financial support to the club via its provision of new facilities as part of the $12 million Deep Creek Reserve project. Council contributed $10 million to the project, with the Victorian Government contributing an additional $2 million.
Council provided almost $60,000 to the golf club during Covid to help cover utility costs, and was only charging it a small fee to the operators to lease the council-owned premises.
“Council is assisting Worrells and supporting those impacted where we can. We recognise this is a very difficult time for all those affected,” said Cardinia Shire Mayor Cr Tammy Radford. “While the club is under control of the administrators, no decisions can be made about the future use of the facilities previously leased by the golf club.”
Deep Creek Reserve and its facilities – including new facilities for Deep Creek Golf Club – opened to the public in late-2019. The club’s previous clubhouse, a council-owned building in Oaktree Drive, had reached the end of its practical use. As it wasn’t feasible to upgrade this building, Council worked with the club to design and construct a brand-new clubhouse in the multipurpose centre at Deep Creek reserve. A driving range, shedding, and golf course upgrade was also provided for the club to lease.
Cardinia Environment Coalition, which is a tenant of the main building and indigenous plant nursery at Deep Creek Reserve, is not impacted by the voluntary administration and is operating as normal. The neighbouring playground at Deep Creek Reserve also remains open to the public.
