Fairbairn Golf Club Course Listed for Sale by Defence
The Fairbairn Golf Club course has been listed among 68 Defence properties slated for sale, despite the club having signed a new five-year lease in July. The 65-hectare course, established in the 1960s on a former Royal Australian Air Force base, is adjacent to Canberra Airport.
The course is considered a potential acquisition by Canberra Airport, which is listed as a possible buyer.
Club president Brian Depree stated that the announcement was unexpected. He is scheduled to meet with a Defence official to discuss the matter, seeking clarity on the decision, particularly regarding the course's prior function as a green buffer. The news has caused the club to pause investment decisions related to its 10-year development plan.
The club had previously expressed interest in purchasing the golf course but recognized it would not be competitive in the commercial market. The existing lease contains a clause for exceptional circumstances, though Defence property sales are historically slow.
Environmental and Commercial Considerations
Another concern is the potential for PFAS contamination from firefighting foam. Defence has conducted testing on the course's edges near the former firefighting area, detecting low levels of PFAS in the soil. The impact of this on future development is currently unknown.
Fairbairn Golf Club has 882 members, many of whom are former Defence personnel. Club president Depree has assured members that operations will continue as usual.
Richard Snow, Group Head of Property for Canberra Airport, identified the sale as a potential opportunity to integrate the land into the Airport's holdings. However, he also emphasized the need to understand the sale conditions and restrictions.
Ashlee Berry, Executive Director of Property Council ACT & Capital Region, suggested that the land's most suitable use would be for industrial and commercial development. This recommendation is given its location within an area known for warehousing and logistics, rather than for housing.