MP Matt Thistlethwaite calls on government to dump plans to halve Moore Park golf course

Sydney’s golf wars are hotting up with a Federal MP telling his Labor colleagues to shelve plans for a hatchet job on the Moore Park course.

Another Labor politician has joined the crusade to save Moore Park golf course with a local Federal MP calling on the NSW government to dump plans for a hatchet job on the historic layout.

Matt Thistlethwaite, whose Kingsford Smith electorate takes in the southern half of the inner-city course, is against moves to slash Moore Park from 18 holes to nine.

He says calls for increased public recreational space are answered in an alternative proposal from the club that would enable the course to continue as a championship 18-hole venue.

: NCA Newswire / Gaye Gerard

A day after State Labor MP Lynda Voltz broke ranks and opposed hacking the Moore Park layout in half, Thistlethwaite added his voice to the fight.

“I don’t support reducing the size of one of the few public golf courses in Sydney,” he said.

“Almost all the golf courses in the area are private and unaffordable for the average punter.

“I don’t think it’s a good idea to reduce access to golf for the public who want to have a hit and get some exercise.

“Moore Park Golf Club came up with a sensible proposal to increase public space, build new recreation facilities and keep 18 holes, and I reckon the government should consider that as an alternative.

“It’s a win-win because the public get access to more parklands and we keep an important public golf course.”

Federal MP Matt Thistlethwaite, at the launch of James BlundellÕs new Anzac Day song on Friday. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Nikki Short

Mr Thistlethwaite has written to Paul Scully, NSW Minister for Planning and Public Spaces, to outline his concerns and those of residents within his electorate who live adjacent to the course.

The letter outlined how his constituents were “opposed to the reduction of the current golf course and the introduction of potential night golf facilities near their homes”.

Night golf forms part of the plans under consideration by the state government to increase usage at Moore Park if the course is shrunk to create 20 hectares for new parkland.

Alternative plans proposed for the course. Supplied

The government has argued additional open space is required for the 790,000 residents who will live in the area by 2041.

The Moore Park golf club’s alternative proposal delivers 15 hectares for new recreational facilities with the course to be redesigned from par-72 to par-68.

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Originally published as MP Matt Thistlethwaite calls on government to dump plans to halve Moore Park golf course