Time is running out for the 36-year-old irrigation system at the Pambula Merimbula Golf Club and despite the possibility the club may be forced to take a loan to pay for some of the works, club officials know they have no other option.
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The club will sign a contract within weeks for a $1.15million replacement system having raised almost $750,000 from club reserves and members donations and more recently a $90,000 grant from the NSW government’s 2016 Community Building Partnership program.
This system is so old it literally is dying.
- Tony Freeman, vice-president, Pambula Merimbula Golf Club
The system is inextricably linked to council’s own waterworks worries as it takes 20 per cent of the grey water produced by the nearby sewage centre, thus reducing the amount that enters the sea through the ocean outfall pipe, something the Environmental Protection Agency has concerns about.
Pambula Merimbula Golf Club vice-president Tony Freeman said course irrigation systems are usually only expected to last about 25 years.
“The club was warned in November 2014 by two irrigation experts that the system could fail at any time and must be upgraded by the end of 2017 as it could not be expected to last any longer. It requires constant attention to keep it limping along. System problems increased during 2015/16 and maintaining the fragile, decaying system is becoming progressively more demanding and more expensive,” Mr Freeman said.
By lunchtime on Thursday, January 12 there had already been four leaks for that day alone that ground staff had to deal with.
Course superintendent Pat Wilson has been credited with nursing the system through its last days before work starts on the replacement irrigation system on March 1.
“Last week the main line that carries grey water out to the course fractured. The PVC pipe is becoming fragile and fracturing. I get calls at all hours of the day and night and it can take a day to dig up and repair some of these pipes,” Mr Wilson said.
Away from the main pipe lies a bird’s nest of thin irrigation pipes that carry water to sprinklers around the course. Maintaining the correct hydraulic pressure is crucial to ensuring sprinklers are turned on and off at the right times.
“We have to prioritise; we have 30 leaks out there right now and we’re just keeping the old system limping along,” Mr Wilson said.
With work starting March 1, Mr Freeman reassured keen golfers that 18 holes would be available throughout and added that he only expected a maximum of three holes to be out at any one time. He also expects the upgrade of 29km of pipe, 1014 sprinklers, more than 6km of electrical cable, new pumps, control software and control panel to be completed by the end of September in time for the annual week of golf which sees over 700 players competing in one of the biggest tournaments of its kind in the country.
In 2015 council agreed that it would provide $150,000 if the club could secure a National Stronger Regions subsidy funding of $500,000. The club was unsuccessful in getting the federal grant but has secured $90,000 from the state government.
“Council has been advised of the grant and we have asked whether assistance could still be available to the club; hopefully they will consider it,” Mr Freeman said.
He points to the symbiotic waste water relationship between the two organisations and said the club could take another 20 per cent of council’s grey water for irrigation of surrounding vegetation but would need an additional irrigation system, not something the club is able to fund at this time given the focus of covering costs for the current upgrade.
When The World visited Eden, eight people came straight to the club to play. They really enjoyed it and want to come back next year.
- Tony Freeman vice president Pambula Merimbula Club Club
President David Boag is hoping that the community may be able to offer some support too. Both Mr Boag and Mr Freeman highlight the economic contribution of the club.
“Overall the business puts about $4million into the local economy through visitors who take accommodation, buy food and petrol. We are one of the largest employers in the area with 34 employees plus a huge cast of around 70 volunteers who supplement that work,” Mr Boag said.
The course, its condition and attractive outlook are major factors in enticing visitors to the area, they say.
“When The World (the residential cruise ship) visited Eden, eight people came straight to the club to play. They really enjoyed it and want to come back next year,” Mr Freeman said.
“It’s probably one of the most attractive courses in southern Australia and for us it’s about thinking ahead,” Mr Freeman added.
He believes that the international traffic through Canberra airport will produce more visitors for the club but said that what is really lacking in the area is a supply of fully serviced four or five star accommodation.
“This is a relatively new market opening up for us and we have to get ready for it. We’re already seeing more visitors from Canberra and we want to become a centre of golfing excellence,” he said.