Golden opportunity missed?

I don't live in the town now so not sure what local opinion has been other than the group against it that have been in the news but seems like a an opportunity missed to me.

A world class golf course and new housing in a town that is rapidly on the slide and in need of a massive boost so does seem odd to me.

Certainly a golden opportunity for the developers however it is unlikely to do anything to resolve the housing crisis given that it is the young and the poor who are in most need.