Cockburn councillors have voted to suspend all further work on the proposed $10 million Coogee Golf Complex, effectively halting a project that has been under consideration for two decades. The decision, passed by a narrow 5-4 vote, rejected an officer's recommendation to continue liaising with stakeholders and investigating the project's feasibility.
Council Decision and Rationale
Councillor Tarun Dewan's alternative motion to suspend any further work associated with the golf complex was approved, meaning no additional resources or funding will be allocated to investigate, plan, or develop a business case for the course unless the council decides otherwise in the future. The city had set aside $9.9 million in its long-term financial plan for the project, but that allocation will remain untouched.
“The proposed Coogee golf complex has been under consideration for approximately two decades without progressing to implementation,” Cr Dewan said. “The prolonged time frame indicates the project has not demonstrated sufficient strategic priority, financial viability and community benefit to justify further investment. Significant funds have already been expended on investigations, studies and consultant reports over an extended period.”
Financial and Historical Context
The City of Cockburn has spent $342,000 developing plans and business cases for the golf complex over the project's lifetime. The course was first proposed in 2006 and was included in the city's community, sport and recreation plan for 2018 to 2033. Perth-based consultants Glen Flood Group developed a business plan in 2021, which did not anticipate construction beginning until at least 2027.
Cockburn has not had an operational golf course since the Glen Iris golf course in Jandakot closed in 2020 to make way for residential development. The proposed Coogee site was intended to fill that gap, but concerns over costs and priorities have stalled progress.
Environmental and Heritage Surveys
Fauna, flora and heritage surveys for the proposed site were updated in 2023 to ensure compliance with Aboriginal and environmental standards. The surveys identified important black cockatoo habitat, Aboriginal cultural sites, and a European heritage site in the area. City officers had recommended that council continue liaising with its Aboriginal, sustainability, and environmental reference groups following the survey results.
Council also approved a $45,000 budget amendment in December 2025 to undertake a further review of golf provision at the site, which is currently being progressed. Cr Dewan excluded this work from his suspension motion but argued that additional studies were unlikely to alter the fundamental challenges facing the project.
Opposing Views and Debate
Councillor Tom Widenbar opposed the suspension, noting that the golf provision review was already underway under an existing consultancy contract. “There is already a consultancy contract in play here, which was authorised by council in December 2025 for a review of golf provisions at the site. We’re not going to do anything until we get that report back, so saying we’re going to stop any expenditure until then is a bit of a moot point,” he said.
Cr Widenbar also stressed the importance of the fauna, flora, and heritage surveys for future planning, regardless of the golf course's fate. “This is all stuff that should be happening regardless of if we continue with the golf course - it’s worthy of continuing our understanding of the ecology of the site,” he said. “None of this is costing money. I don’t see why we would stop all that work when it doesn’t cost us anything or delay anything else.”
Cr Dewan countered that he would rather allocate city resources to higher priority projects, such as repairing slides at Cockburn Arc or providing more playgrounds and other community amenities. “That’s the purpose of our council — to make sure our ratepayer funded money benefits a larger population, not a small group of golfers in a higher income bracket,” he said.
Next Steps
The current consultancy on the site's golf provision will continue, and a findings report is expected to be presented to council later this year. Until then, no further work on the Coogee Golf Complex will proceed, effectively putting the project on indefinite hold.
