A public golf course in central Sydney is going to be halved in size from 18 holes to nine and turned into the city’s ‘central park’.
NSW Premier Chris Minns announced the shock move at a press conference on Sunday, to the disgust of golfers who pay to play at Moore Park Golf Course.
The state government will seize around 20 hectares and turn it into a park to benefit the 80,000 people estimated to be living within two kilometres of the area by 2040.
‘As the New South Wales government issues more density, more apartment living, more units, we need to balance that with more open space,’ Mr Minns said.
‘This will transform people’s experiences as they come into the world’s greatest city with more natural parkland (and) more recreation space.
A public golf course in central Sydney is going to be halved in size from 18 holes to nine and turned into the city’s ‘central park’, NSW Premier Chris Minns (pictured) announced on Sunday
NSW Premier Chris Minns announced the shock move at a press conference on Sunday, to the disgust of golfers who pay to play at Moore Park Golf Course
‘It’s great opportunity for the residents in this community to get out and have fun with their family and friends in this densely populated area.’
The Green Square urban renewal area already has a population of around 33,000, but this is set to more than double over the next 17 years.
Seizing half the golf course, which is currently only open to those paying to play there, will see more green space opened up to the public, with sports and recreation being a priority for the area.
Sydney’s Lord Mayor, Clover Moore, joined the Premier at the announcement and said the gold club’s driving range and clubhouse will not be affected.
Mr Minns said his government is ‘certainly not declaring war on golf’.
He said locals have been asking for more parklands and that the area is ‘one of the most densely populated parts of the entire country’.
‘I just want to say there are a lot of golf courses in Sydney and we’re not taking over all of them,’ he said.
He said the move was ‘a recognition by the government that given we are making decisions about urban consolidation, more units, more apartments, there’s got to be more green space too.
‘This has got to be a trade off and this is part of our vision for Sydney.’
State MP Alex Greenwich, whose electorate includes the course, enthusiastically backed the change, saying that times have changed.
‘You know, closed off 18 hole golf courses are no longer fit for purpose in global cities (where) density continues to grow,’ he said.
‘This is a massive opportunity to open up new parkland and we’re gonna see golf buggies being replaced with picnic mats and kids playing, and that’s what that’s what we need in this part of the world.’
The area most likely to be used for the new public park is between the western boundary and part of the section north of Dacey Avenue (pictured)
State MP Alex Greenwich (pictured), whose electorate includes the course, enthusiastically backed the change, saying that times have changed. Labor councillor Linda Scott is also pictured
The golf course’s operating agreement with the state government ends in 2026, with the changes starting then.
The area most likely to be used for the new public park is between the western boundary and part of the section north of Dacey Avenue, which will give easy access to people living in Green Square, Zetland and Waterloo.
NSW Planning Minister Paul Scully also said more open space is needed as Sydney’s inner suburbs become more populated.
‘The communities of Redfern, Waterloo, Green Square and Zetland are crying out for more green space and this change will go a long way to satisfying their needs,’ he said.