Stage set with $235m plan for Morisset Country Club site
30th August 2019
The covers have today come off a $235m plan to redevelop the privately-owned Morisset Country Club site.
In short, the proposal includes five separate precincts.
The first is a refurbishment and extension of the existing clubhouse and will include the addition of cafes and restaurants.
The second, which runs along Dora Street, is a large family-orientated water park which I believe will be among the biggest of its type in the country.
The third is a 28-hectare event space with world-class staging which could accommodate 30,000 people for outdoor concerts, trade shows and other major events. It's expected to draw some of the world's biggest names in entertainment and will rival and surpass similar outdoor venues in the Hunter Valley and Sydney. It adjoins a 10-hectare site which would house tourist cabins, caravans and camping.
The fourth is a 25-hectare 'lifestyle living' residential park which would front Wyee Road, while the fifth is a 20-hectare parcel of land set aside for future investigation.
While I know some people will be disappointed that the golf course is changing, I believe this proposal offers an enormous amount of jobs and investment potential and will offer something for the whole community.
I'm encouraging everyone in the local area to have a look at the plan and make their thoughts known while it's on public exhibition with Lake Macquarie council.
Here's what I told local media today:
"From what I’ve seen, I believe this $235m proposal will be embraced by the vast majority of people in the local and broader Hunter Region community.
"Some will be disappointed that the golf course is changing but I think the opportunities on offer here are huge, especially for young people.
“I’m pleased that this proposal has come from a local resident in Paul Lambess who knows the area, knows its potential and knows what this community is about.
“I think it’s a great vision which could drive a lot of job creation and investment in the area if approved. It will have to go under the microscope of the council first and I encourage everyone to get involved and share their thoughts – positive and negative - on the plan while it’s on public exhibition.
“The water park and event grounds will be a major tourism attraction for the area. The scope of major events that are being talked about for the site will rival and surpass many of those we’ve seen in the Hunter Valley and in Sydney.
“I’ve spoken to the Lake Macquarie Economic Development company Dantia and they tell me it has the potential to create more than 1200 jobs during construction and more than 475 permanent jobs once operational. It will also provide an economic boost of about $170m a year when operational.
“Road and traffic issues will obviously be looked at during the assessment process, but the big advantage of this site is that it’s very close to the M1 and Morisset train station.
“I’d really like to see people get involved with this process and have their say on the plan when it goes on public exhibition."