Sandy Creek's A$30m, 73-room resort wins approval after 11 years

The report describes a long approval path. The proposal began with a failed council application, then went through reviews by three different government assessment panels. A court battle ultimately produced a compromise that let the development proceed, but it shrank the footprint and removed 23 rooms from the original design.

The developer is Neville Roberts, described by the outlet as a local Australian rules football legend. The report does not name a development company, so none is listed here. He said the resort is what the Barossa needs “at exactly the right time”, and, asked whether the long fight was justified, said he would rather fight on than lose.

The numbers

Golf Industry Central puts the project at A$30 million, with a completion target of 2028. The approved scheme includes:

• 73 rooms, after the 23-room cut made as part of the court compromise
• a restaurant
• a swimming pool
• conference facilities

The report does not give the original room count, a floor area, or a building height, and we have not added figures it does not state.

What’s next

With full development approval secured, the next step is construction. According to the report, Roberts said the main challenge now is finding a builder to take on the project ahead of the 2028 target.

Sandy Creek Golf Club said in a statement that it has no role in the development. It said there is no impact for now on golf course access, club operations or upcoming events, and that it expects to liaise regularly with the developer as the project progresses.

For another regional South Australian project this week, see the Highfield Living south coast masterplan.

Source: Golf Industry Central, 6 November 2026.