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The expression of interest campaign closed on May 28 and resulted in the club shortlisting three national companies as candidates.

The companies are to be provided with information packages and will have a two-month period to review documentation and put forward a proposal, after which one will be selected to undertake the project.

In March the golf club received council approval for the development, which involves transforming the 27-hole course into a challenging 18-hole course and using the reclaimed 14ha for 300 homes.

The club occupies a 72ha site and the upmarket estate is part of a wider scheme that will see construction of a clubhouse close to the Ross River and significant infrastructure improvements, including a new sewage treatment plant.

The approval allows buildings up to three levels and the estate will feature medium-density housing as well as free-standing homes.

The 14ha residential parcel is at the centre of the golf course property and homes will be set back from roads, maximising the number to front the club's greens and ensuring that green space fronting Quinn and Lindsay Sts remains.

The project is the brainchild of a development advisory committee chaired by Phoenix Constructions' Bob Evennett and comprising heavyweights Richard Ferry, David Carmichael, Col Harkness, John van Grinsven, Geoff Eales, Bernie Goldie, Bill Kennedy and club president Rob Fensom.

Mr Evennett said the expression of interest campaign had drawn a strong response.

''The respondents included a number of high-profile businesses and, after reviewing the submissions, we now have three prominent development companies to which we will be forwarding information packages,'' he said.

''We took the view before launching the campaign that it would be in the best interests of club members to put the project before the wider development community and not just regional businesses.

''This is prime land and we want to achieve the best possible outcome.''

Mr Evennett said the treatment plant was an important component as the existing plant, which provides grey water for greens' irrigation as a supplement to rainwater, was nearing the end of its life.

''We have made allowance for the treatment plant upgrade in our costings for the redevelopment,'' he said.

''Right now, we have an agreement with the city council under which we maintain treatment at a certain level until we put in place the new plant, which will treat water to a higher level.''

Source: Townsville Bulletin