Taxpayers have paid more than half a million dollars to maintain the former St. George's public golf course.

It was closed in July 2008 because it was losing money and work was expected to begin on the proposed Park Hyatt resort, but since then Government has paid $555,689 in grounds maintenance and salaries.

The figure, revealed in Parliamentary Questions in the House of Assembly on Monday, paid $317,035 in salaries between October 2008 and December 2009.

Answers provided by Premier Ewart Brown stated that the lease agreement for the hotel development would be tabled in this session of the House of Assembly.

Opposition Leader Kim Swan, who tabled the questions, said it was "bizarre" that the Premier had not already tabled the lease agreement.

"Last week on the Everest Dacosta Show — the Premier told a caller that they can come to his office to see the lease — yet Parliament still cannot see the lease," he said. "Why is the Premier avoiding tabling the lease — is there something to conceal?"

An additional $52,242 had gone to Belco to maintain the grounds, Telco was paid $3,826 during the period and general grounds maintenance, including diesel usage, landscaping, paint and trucking fees, cost $185,586.

Mr. Swan said the payments were "extremely unusual", adding: "Whilst the Government were quick to prematurely close the golf course, it is absurd that taxpayer money continues to pay a half-million dollars a year to maintain the golf course without taking advantage of the opportunity to generate income from the property," he said. "Tourists and locals have been denied a popular public facility whilst half million taxpayer dollars continue to be put into the property."

Government has previously said the golf course will undergo an extensive redesign by top British golf professional and winner of six Major tournaments Nick Faldo. Plans for the new golf course have not been made public. Construction on the proposed Park Hyatt has not started.