File photo by ANDREW KACIMAIWAI
Australian Turf Club (ATC) members have voted down a move to turn the Rosehill Gardens racecourse into 25,000 new homes.
According to the ATC, 3451 voting members (or only 43.9%) voted to sell the site for a reported $5 billion.
Club chairman Peter McGauran described the vote as historic while NSW Premier Chris Minns told news.com.au that he was disappointed by the vote.
“This was the most significant decision in the club’s history …” McGauran says.
He describes debate about the proposal as “robust” and that views expressed throughout the process will help them with future strategic planning.
“With the vote behind us, the club’s focus is firmly on the future.
“Our priorities remain enhancing our tracks and welfare systems, growing participation and continually improving the race day experience.”
He says upgrading racing infrastructure and technology and long-term sustainability will remain front of mind for the club.
“We will also continue to explore opportunities to diversify the revenue streams our racecourses and assets generate to reduce the reliance on wagering.”
Advocacy group Western Sydney Leadership Dialogue described the decision as a sad loss for the region.
Dialogue chairman Christopher Brown says the ‘no’ vote is a lamentable and short-sighted decision.
“This is a lamentable outcome,” he says.
“(Greater Western Sydney) GWS has a total housing target of more than 150,000 homes over the next five years. We need to take the shackles off to get there.”
BACKGROUND
In December 2023, the NSW government announced it was talking to the ATC about its proposal to relocate the racecourse and build 25,000 new homes, a school and a new Metro rail station.
The ATC proposal called for a horse training facility at Horsley Park to house 300-400 horses to be relocated from Rosehill Gardens stables, redevelop Warwick Farm and build a new racecourse elsewhere in Sydney.
At that time, Minns called the proposal “a once-in-a-lifetime” chance to build more housing close to transport links and green spaces.
