Greyhound racing at Wentworth Park in Sydney is to be replaced by 7300 new homes and sports facilities for the growing inner city.
And Greyhound Racing NSW (GRNSW) says it is “totally stunned” by the decision.
The NSW Government has announced its plans for the site once the NSW Greyhound lease ends in September 2027 and will give a $10 million grant to help the industry move the racing to another track.
The government says the 14-hectare site will remain publicly owned to serve residents of the Ultimo-Pyrmont area, just 1.5 kilometres from Sydney’s CBD.
NSW Premier Chris Minns says they “know some will be disappointed by this change”.
“Cities change and we have a responsibility to plan for the future,” he says.
“In the middle of Sydney and connected by rail, light rail, ferries and future Metro, our plan for the future of Wentworth Park will deliver much-needed new housing while also providing up to 20 new sporting fields,” he says.
Planning and Public Spaces Minister Paul Scully says they are securing the park’s future to ensure residents can live closer to work, education or transport.
“We’ll continue working closely with Sydney (council) to deliver this rezoning in a timely way, and we’re ready to step in with a state-led rezoning if it’s needed,” he says.
GRNSW REACTION
“We are totally stunned by this decision as I am sure the entire industry and our participants are as well,” GRNSW Chief Executive Officer Steve Griffin says.
“The government say that they are supportive of us on one hand then, with a decision such as this, they appear to be closing the industry by stealth.”
He describes the $10m four-year grant to upgrade greyhound racing tracks as “meagre” and “ludicrous”.
“We want all our tracks upgraded but we need a metropolitan racetrack,” Griffin says.
“The funding being offered doesn’t even cover one month of lost wagering revenue which would occur when the industry leaves Wentworth Park.
“Can you imagine the thoroughbred industry being told to leave Randwick but here’s $10m to upgrade your country facilities?
“We need a presence in the metropolitan area,” Griffin says.
“We are very much sport that has its roots in the regions but we need a showpiece for all those in the regions to aspire to reach. We have that with Wentworth Park.”
GRNSW says crowds and wagering on feature greyhound race nights at Wentworth Park remain strong in the face of falling industry crowds.
It says at the recent Ladbrokes Million Dollar Chase Grand Final, ticket sales were up 43.7% on 2024 with an estimated crowd of 3000, while wagering on three city race meetings rose from $20.9m last year to almost $22m this year.
GOVERNMENT UNMOVED
But Lands, Property and Sport Minister Steve Kamper says they “have been clear from the outset” that they needed Wentworth Park to be ‘used’ for more than just racing.
Racing and Gaming Minister David Harris says concedes the move spells “the end of an era for inner city greyhound racing” that has run there since 1932 but says they will “continue to support a competitive, responsible and sustainable greyhound racing industry”.
WHAT’S INVOLVED
The Wentworth Park precinct will be adjacent to transport links such as a new ferry stop at the new Sydney Fish Markets, an upgraded light rail station at Wentworth Park, a 15-kilometre coastal boardwalk (Blackwattle Bay to Woolloomooloo) and Pyrmont Metro station (opening in 2032).
The 3.3-ha Wentworth Park Sporting Complex precinct will become sports fields and public green space and rezoned so 2500 new homes to be built.
These homes are in addition to 4800 homes that are already planned or approved, including about 2000 homes on the old fish market site.
The government confirmed Mirvac is the preferred tenderer for the old fish market site with construction of 1400 homes (including 580 student units) due to start early in 2027.
The existing racing track and facilities are to be demolished and the land title transferred to Sydney City Council to allow it to be turned into sports fields; the government believes about 20 new sport fields will be needed in the city by 2031.
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