‘Micromanagement on steroids’: Bayswater council rejects plans to establish golf course management committee

Bayswater City Council has rejected plans to establish a golf course management committee after claims the group would be “micromanagement on steroids”. Cr Sally Palmer’s motion to establish a five-member committee to oversee the Maylands Peninsula and Embleton golf courses was lost in a close vote on August 27 after failing to secure the absolute majority of the council. The meeting took place without Mayor Filomena Piffaretti who put in an apology ahead of her leave of absence from August 28 to September 22. The committee would have been made up of three elected members and two members of the public. Both golf courses are operated by TenGolf Group under a 10-year lease agreement. TenGolf — who manage the course’s public facing services and professional operations — has invested more than $4 million in the Maylands Peninsula golf course over the past two years. “Embleton and Maylands golf courses are the very essence of the City’s crown jewel, yet we as councillors and ratepayers have no inclusion in their reports or future knowledge ... of any existing or proposed plans,” Cr Palmer said. “Lack of councillors inclusion in these matters could be seen as irresponsible and having no involvement (and) no duty of care with City assets. “Lack of good knowledge in any decision making could cause misinformation and disunity among all parties ... it is for the good of all and this (committee) will reduce any queries between any of the parties, councillors, officers, lessees, and most importantly, ratepayers.” But LK Advisory director Len Kosova, who spoke on behalf of TenGolf, said there was “no sound justification” for establishing a committee because it would not change the group’s existing management and contractual obligations. “We understand that there is a belief that insufficient information is available to elected members regarding the current performance for the golf courses,” he said. “In response, we respectfully suggest this is not due to an absence of information being provided by TenGolf, but perhaps a level of awareness about the detailed contractual obligations that exist between TenGolf and elected members pursuing access to the abundant information.” Mr Kosova confirmed TenGolf provided an annual business plan, KPIs and player statistics to the city and said management meetings were held with city staff “every two to three months”. “TenGolf has no objection whatsoever of all this information being provided to elected members as frequently as desired if it assists in your decision making rules in future,” he said. “However, we do respectfully assert that forming a management committee compromising of elected members as well as members of the public will not alter the existing contractual obligations that apply to your parties, nor will it increase the level of information reporting and accountability that’s already demonstrated. “There is some misconception in the community that one or both golf courses are not operated as public golf courses. “There is absolutely no basis to this whatsoever and we suggest there is no value in establishing a committee to combat this misbelief.” Cr Michelle Sutherland — who voted against the motion — said the committee was “not needed” and was “micromanagement on steroids”. “It’s going back to the ‘90’s ... they’re simply not needed and in my opinion, it’s micromanagement on steroids,” she said. “We don’t need a committee to feel confidence in TenGolf or the officers, that’s their trade, and I feel they’re doing the best job in regarding the running of two great public courses. “A committee will add nothing ... if Cr Palmer and others are worried about anything, they can contact TenGolf any time.” But Cr Palmer said she was worried about “secrecy”, citing an old “rumour” about a new putting green at Embleton golf course. “I’m happy in the way that TenGolf are proceeding, I’ve got no problems with that ... what worries me is secrecy,” she said. “It (the Embleton putting green) was a rumour but it really did cause a lot of concern ... those sort of rumours exist. “The only way to stop that nonsense is by people coming to the table and actually (have) face-to-face tables, minutes and agendas ... that is the kind of respect that TenGolf deserves, not just being hidden in the clouds.” The council’s decision comes just weeks after Bayswater mayor Filomena Piffaretti accepted a $3300 trip to Busselton gifted by an Indonesian coal mining company linked to TenGolf. Ms Piffaretti visited Busselton in July and disclosed the flights from PT Bayan Resources on the council’s gift register, saying the coal miner was an “investor in the city”. PT Bayan Resources was founded by Indonesia’s “coal king” Low Tuck Kwong — a “private investor” who has a 20 per cent share in TenGolf. “We’ve also had our concerns of trips, we don’t know who she (Ms Piffaretti) met ... or how many people knew; I didn’t know (about the trip),” Cr Palmer said. Bayswater City CEO Jeremy Edwards said Ms Piffaretti discussed “current investment opportunities within the city”, but that the city was “not aware of the specific discussions that were held on the trip”.