It is the objective of Federal Golf Club to maintain its property in a manner that provides members, visitors and adjacent properties with a continuing vision of a golf course set in a bush land retreat in the heart of the national capital. The flora and fauna are amongst Federal’s most significant assets. Federal Golf Club occupies an area of 85 hectares at Red Hill. Construction of the golf course began in 1947.
Today Federal has a wide variety of native trees and shrubs in line with an ongoing program aimed at presenting a quality golf course also noted for its standard of botanic excellence. Federal Golf Club is committed to maintaining and nurturing this environment in a sustainable manner, through adoption and implementation of ethical and ecologically sound policies and work practices.
All reasonable and practical effort will be made to minimise risk or harm to the environment, members, staff, the public and surrounding properties. Federal Golf Club takes into account relevant legislation including the ACT Integrated Nature Conservation Plan, the Canberra Nature Park Management Plan, the Environment ACT’ Vertebrate Pest Management Strategy, the ACT Weeds Strategy and laws relating to water use in the ACT.
The objective is to manage a continuing program to present the course, clubhouse and surrounds in a manner compatible with the native bush land of the area and to minimise risk. Habitat trees will be protected where possible and efforts made to attract suitable native bird life. New plantings will be predominantly native species. Some introduced species will from time to time be planted, mainly confined to garden beds in the proximity of the clubhouse and teeing grounds.
WATER
Federal relies on-site bores, irrigation ponds and potable water to supplement the shortfall during extreme weather. The club aims to become as self-sufficient as possible in water use, but as necessary will also seek access to alternative sources.
Fauna / Pests
Kangaroos have long been associated with Federal. Managing their numbers, particularly in dry and drought seasons is difficult without a purpose-built boundary fence. Parts of the course adjoin the Red Hill nature reserve. Kangaroos feed on new plants/shrubs and it is considered prudent to monitor numbers. Cockatoos and insects including the scarab beetle and stem-weevil present considerable problems and need to be controlled through carefully managed programs.
