Mount Isa Mines chips in to help secure Golf Club water supply

The Mount Isa Golf Club has received a $20,000 grant from Mount Isa Mines to help secure their potable water supply and keep their facilities open into the future.

Historically, the Golf Club got its potable water through a sponsored arrangement with Mica Creek Power Station. With the power station moving to cold storage at the beginning of the year, this arrangement concluded, meaning the golf course needed to find another source of potable water for its clubhouse and onsite housing.

The 18-hole course, which has been a beloved community estate for over 70 years, is the only grassed-green course in North West Queensland.

Mount Isa Golf Course Manager, Margie McDonald, says with the closure of the power station, they needed funding to purchase poly pipe, and hire equipment and labour to run a new water line approximately two kilometres to connect to the town’s main water supply.

“We applied for funding through Mount Isa Mines so that we could ensure an ongoing supply of potable water to our clubhouse and keep our long legacy alive,” Margie says.

“We have 260 members, over 3,000 social players, cater to special events and we also provide free use of the course and the driving range to our local schools, youth hubs, junior players and other community groups.”

“Golf is a socially inclusive sport that anybody can play, regardless of age, gender or ability, so it was important to ensure its sustainability here in Mount Isa.”

“The Mount Isa Golf Club has been operating since the 1930s and we’ve been in our current location since 1950. Our closure would have been a huge loss for the community and region,” says Margie.

Queensland Metals General Manager Health, Safety, Environment and Community, Maryann Wipaki, says Mount Isa Mines was keen to support the Golf Club’s water pipeline project, with potable water essential for a facility of its size.

“The golf club is a well-used community asset with many of our own employees being members,” Maryann says.

“To lose this space, which is a haven for so many people, whether they are avid golfers, social players or one of the many community organisations who access the facilities, would have been devastating.”

“Through our Community Assistance Program, we aim to fund projects and initiatives that support the priorities and needs of our community, and we see sustaining a well-loved community precinct like the Mount Isa Golf Club as vitally important,” says Maryann.