New owners of The Sands have Surf Coast roots

THE new owners of The Sands say they have “deep roots in Torquay” and plan to reopen the golf course and resort complex by the start of March.

On Monday this week, Destination Leisure Holdings (DLH) said it had acquired the site for an undisclosed price.

DLH plans to reopen The Sands by no later than March 1 and will employ up to 200 people in the business.

Two Torquay residents, Damian Holman and Paul Fielding, led the acquisition on behalf of a consortium of Surf Coast and Melbourne investors.

Mr Holman said The Sands – which includes the 18-hole golf course designed by Stuart Appleby, the 112-room Peppers hotel and resort, a 25-metre indoor pool, and Hanners restaurant – was an important destination for Torquay and the entire region along the Great Ocean Road, and getting it fully operational again was a priority.

“The Sands is now controlled by people with deep roots in Torquay and the entire Surf Coast,” he said.

“We are passionate about getting The Sands up and running better than ever.

“We also want to invest in this tremendous asset so that it reaches its potential.”

Mr Fielding said The Sands would be run by Belgravia Leisure, which manages golf, gymnasium, spa and hotel assets across Australia.

“We want to ensure the highest standard of service is delivered across the resort,” Mr Fielding said.

“Belgravia Leisure has 30 years of operating experience in Australia, and we are confident they are the best possible choice of partner as we embark on a program to position The Sands as the premier destination along the Great Ocean Road.”

The previous owners of The Sands, Cloud Abacus Holdings and Odyns Holdings, entered voluntary administration in July last year and receivers were appointed one month later to sell the business.

A six-month marketing campaign on behalf of former owners The Handbury Group in 2016 to sell the resort valued the entire property at about $25 million.