Barry and Heather Powell say the new fences are “like a prison.”        www.communitypix.com.au   d459805
Camera IconBarry and Heather Powell say the new fences are “like a prison.”        www.communitypix.com.au d459805 Credit: Supplied/Supplied

Sun City Country Club fence plan angers Yanchep residents

Lucy JarvisNorth Coast Times

A PLAN by a Yanchep golf club to install bigger fences on all sides has dismayed neighbouring residents.

Residents living beside the estate contacted the Times, concerned about fencing proposed in the Sun City Country Club (SCCC) course.

Heather Powell said people who bought blocks beside the golf course did not want their view obstructed by a chain link fence.

PerthNow Digital Edition.
Your local paper, whenever you want it.

Get in front of tomorrow's news for FREE

Journalism for the curious Australian across politics, business, culture and opinion.

READ NOW

“We bought our land with unrestricted views of the golf course,” she said.

Mrs Powell said they had been told the golf course management planned to erect 2.1m fences on their side, similar to fencing that has gone up around other parts of the course to keep kangaroos out.

She said that did not match the 1.1m fencing agreed to with Yanchep Golf Estate developer Peet when the development started in 2012.

MORE: Kangaroos hit by cars and attacked after fencing installed

Club manager Greg Mitchell said the existing 1.1m fences did not meet minimum requirements of 1.8m and posed risks, including the possibility that houses could be hit by golf balls.

Mr Mitchell said there had been access issues with children and pets getting over the existing fences into the private golf course.

“We are entitled to put up a security fence,” he said. “We are entitled to protect our assets. They don’t own the view.

“Our contract with Peet is to restrict access for children and pets (but the fence) doesn’t restrict children and pets.”

Peet managing director and chief executive Brendan Gore said the club started to erect a higher chain mesh fence after it decided to move kangaroos earlier this year.

“Peet expressed strong concerns about the decision to erect a 2m fence behind or opposite existing residential homes,” he said.

“(Peet) offered an alternative option which would have seen temporary fencing erected while a solution more acceptable to residents was found. SCCC rejected this option and the financial incentive which accompanied it.”

Mr Gore said the club also rejected another proposal and the developer was disappointed with the fencing choice but hoped discussions could be resumed in the best interests of residents and the club. “Unfortunately… it is within a landowner’s rights to erect fencing or any other structure that meets government requirements,” he said.

Mrs Powell said residents wanted to retain the existing fences, and objected to the height, chain mesh and proposed barbed wire for the golf course’s preferred fence.

She said residents were also concerned the fence would block their ability to escape via the course if there was a bush fire in the area, as there was only one road out of the estate.

“They are totally enclosing our housing estate,” she said.

“If there’s a fire, we have no means of getting out.

“It’s like a prison. Nobody would choose to live with barbed wire fencing at the back of their garden.”