Ermington Putt Putt site sold to second developer for home units

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This was published 7 years ago

Ermington Putt Putt site sold to second developer for home units

By Roydon Ng
Updated

The final brightly coloured golf ball will roll into hole 18 at Ermington Putt Putt, never to be seen again, for the last time in April.

The course, which sits on a site Parramatta Council sold to developers in 2014, has had a lengthy stay of execution and been busy during the summer school holidays.

The site was originally sold to Chinese developers Aqualand in August 2014 for $130 million, sparking disappointment in the Parramatta and Ryde communities. The Fun Run, Waterways and Jungle Trail mini-golf courses have sat on the site since 1969.

Long-time putt putt golfer Lesley Slender told the Herald after the announcement was made that "It will be a very sad day for the community when bulldozers come through and destroy a local icon for entertainment".

Tom Wykoff, who originally built Putt Putt in 1969 at Ermington.

Tom Wykoff, who originally built Putt Putt in 1969 at Ermington. Credit: Dallas Kilponen

Aqualand's real estate hoardings went up, but late last year were blacked out. The site was resold to development company Payce for $160 million - an increase of $30 million in two years.

Following the 2016 sale, a new development application was lodged with Parramatta Council for permission to construct a 1078 apartments.

Due to large size of the site, Mark Sutton, a spokesman for Payce, confirmed that the development would be constructed in four stages and subject to government approvals over the next 10 years.

Records on Parramatta Council's planning database indicate that the site has received a B4 Mixed Use zoning classification and has a Capital Investment Value of $102,962,383.

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The Fun Run course.

The Fun Run course.Credit: Dallas Kilponen

"The mixed use development will provide a considerable boost to employment in the area," Mr Sutton said.

Parramatta Council would not comment on the status of the development citing that the site was now privately owned.

Aqualand's hoardings, which have been blacked out.

Aqualand's hoardings, which have been blacked out.Credit: Dallas Kilponen

The fate of the application will be determined by the Sydney West Central Planning Panel. The Planning Panel, chaired by Greater Sydney Commission commissioner Ed Blakely, determines significant infrastructure applications and rezoning reviews.

Putt Putt is currently continuing operations as usual on the site rent free.

The Putt Putt course was created by Tom Wykoff and despite efforts to find a new home for the much loved Putt Putt, nearby sites such as Ryde Bowling Club or Rydalmere Park were deemed unsuitable.

Upset at Parramatta Council for selling off the land and providing no viable alternative location, Mr Wykoff says he "feels terrible to have lost it after 47 years" especially as Putt Putt has welcomed nearly four million visitors through its gates.

"Putt Putt's gonna die," said 86-year-old Mr Wykoff, who has no plans to open a new course to replace the Ermington site.

The site is destined for closure on April 30 with most of staff to be transferred to the final Putt Putt course in Mermaid Beach on the Gold Coast, where he owns the land the course is set on.

"It is very sad," said employee Susan, who has worked at the Ermington site for seven years.

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