NSW Premier Chris Minns’ refuses to reveal Moore Park Golf Course, sporting fields timeline

NSW Premier Chris Minn has based his plans to halve Moore Park Golf Course on a promise to build new community sporting fields – but he is yet to provide a timeline despite planning to seize the site next year.

NSW Premier Chris Minns has refused to say when new sports fields will be built at Moore Park despite using the promise to push for the controversial golf course carve-up.

Mr Minns dodged questions about the site on Tuesday but hinted that “exciting announcements” about Moore Park would be included in the upcoming state budget, which will be handed down next week.

The Daily Telegraph revealed last week that a bureaucrat had warned sports codes not to be “fooled” by the Premier’s promise to turn the course into new sporting facilities as the move would require “mass tree clearing”.

But when asked on Tuesday if he could give a commitment about when this promise would be delivered, Mr Minns tried to buy time.

“Not today, but more will be released in the budget,” he said.

NSW Premier Chris Minns. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Monique Harmer

“Obviously the government takes a step by step approach to new announcements, and today we wanted (to speak) about schools, but we’ll have more to say about new open sporting fields in the days ahead.”

“Well, the budget will be revealed soon, but you can expect exciting announcements about Moore Park,” he said.

The Minns government plans to halve Moore Park Golf Course to create sporting fields and parklands. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

Opposition Leader Mark Speakman said the premier’s reluctance to provide a timeline for the project proved he had “made a mistake”.

“A good leader admits when they’ve made mistakes Chris Minns should admit that he’s made a mistake in supporting the carve-up of a Moore Park golf course and (he should) change course,” Mr Speakman said.

“Chris Minns has told sporting groups they’re going to get more playing fields, but we know from the government’s own internal documents that (this) isn’t possible without a mass tree clearing, which is unacceptable to the community.

“(He) needs to admit that he was wrong on this occasion.”

NSW Opposition Leader Mark Speakman. Photo: NewsWire/ Gaye Gerard

Mr Speakman suggested the premier adopt the “alternative option” proposed by golfing groups which would keep the 18-hole golf course while opening up 15 hectares of surrounding green space for public use.

The government has so far only allocated $2.6 million in planning funding to turn the golf course into public parkland and has remained coy about the plans, despite Mr Minns previously saying he was “hopeful of having the land at some point in 2026”.

However, asked if the Liberals would save the golf course if they are elected in 2027, Mr Speakman said it will depend on the “how far the plans are advanced by then”.

“I mean if it’s already been carved up, it might be hard to reverse. We’d have to see what the state of play is at the election and a couple months before the election,” he said.

Originally published as NSW Premier Chris Minns’ refuses to reveal Moore Park Golf Course, sporting fields timeline