Visionary's plans for Greg Norman-designed golf course and housing project rejected by council

A substantial site in Wollongong for which Visionary Investment Group planned a Greg Norman-designed 18-hole golf course and housing has been rejected by the local council.

The matter is now on appeal before the Land and Environment Court.

VIG had sought to create create 105 residential lots on the site to form an integrated resort on the 187-hectare site on Avondale Road in Avondale sub-division, The Australian Financial Review reported.

However, the Wollongong City Council rejected it because of "environmental impact, traffic and planning concerns”.

VIG declined to comment in detail due to court action but said it was "fully committed to long-term investment in the Illawarra region".

"Our integrated resort development would not only showcase the best that the region has to offer but more importantly bring employment and long-term sustainable economic growth to the region, especially in tourism, hospitality, retirement and other services sectors," VIG chief executive Michael Guo was quoted by the AFR as saying.

"We will continue working with the community, council and all stakeholders to make our integrated resort development the true pride of Illawarra."

VIG had worked on Avondale for several years, reflecting a trend for developers turning towards masterplanned communities and house and land development, as the apartment prices cool in Sydney.

Wollongong is also popular because of its access to a university and growing economy.

In fact, a BIS Shrapnel report found sometime back that Wollongong was beating Newcastle in attracting potential property buyers priced out of the Sydney market, with Wollongong's vacancy rates falling and the median house price rising by 14% in 2014/2015 according to The BIS Shrapnel Residential Property Prospects 2015 to 2018 report.

 Last year, Visionary Investment Group had also announced the arrival of hotel and residential brand Silkari with the launch of three properties.