"As the Member for Cottesloe I am supportive of the Cottesloe Golf Club's proposal to develop residential accommodation on a vacant strip of land that sits within the club's current lease area," Mr Barnett said.
The 18-hole club at the intersection of West Coast Highway and Alfred Road has a 40-year lease opposite the $165 million Aria apartment development, which promotes a golf-playing lifestyle in its advertising.
Mr Barnett said the unused land the club was investigating was unlikely to ever be used for another purpose and was not part of the State Government's asset sales to reduce debt.
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READ NOW"This is an initiative of the Cottesloe Golf Club and if the development was to proceed, I do not anticipate any adverse impacts on nearby residents," he said.
Mr Barnett has written to the City of Nedlands for its views on the club's proposal.
Nedlands Mayor Max Hipkins said there had been initial talks between the club and council staff but transferring a C-Class reserve would be controversial because it was public open space and changing its status could generate public opposition.
"At the same time the Government is trying to increase housing densities in Perth, it's clear that we are going to need all the parks we can get in the future," Mr Hipkins said
The club has asked the Department of Lands whether the land can be transferred during its enquiries in the past six months.
"There's due process, so we can't just go and buy the land," club chief executive Troy O�Hern said.
Mr O�Hern said the club had not "even got to first base" with the inquiry, which had prompted the department to tell the club any transfer process could be long and complicated.
He said the club only wanted to explore its options and the inquiry had not been prompted by the Government's asset sales, but it was unlikely club members would discuss it at their annual general meeting in November.