Greens ask for public input on turning Eagle Farm racecourse into affordable housing

The Greens’ ambitious plan to transform Eagle Farm racecourse into affordable housing has moved a step further, with the community now asked to have their say. VOTE IN THE POLL

Months after the idea was howled down on a community Facebook page, the Greens’ lord mayoral candidate and a federal Greens MP are asking the public for input on a plan to turn Eagle Farm racecourse into affordable housing.

The party this morning, August 30, launched a community survey regarding its proposal to replace the historic inner-north venue with 4000 publicly-owned and rent-capped homes, 15ha of parks and sports fields, 10ha of native forest, new primary and high schools, a major library, community centre, public medical services and 75,000 sqm of publicly-owned commercial tenancies.

Mayoral candidate Jonathan Sriranganathan and local federal MP, Stephen Bates, claimed it could be self-funding through rents charged to commercial and middle-income residential tenants.

Cr Sriranganathan floated the idea of “repurposing’’ Eagle Farm and neighbouring Doomben in July on a northside community Facebook page.

But administrators shut his post down after it breached rules on the number of negative comments.

The more detailed proposal for 40ha of the 49ha site, launched this morning, pointed out that owners the Brisbane Racing Club (BRC) had already sold large blocks of the original racing precinct for luxury private units.

Crowds at Doomben Racecourse for the Doomben 10,000 in May. Picture: Richard Walker

The Greens estimated 10,000 residents could be housed in buildings up to five levels, while creating new green space and demand for extra train and bus services.

“This is not a locked-in campaign promise or something we want to rush off and do in a hurry,’’ Cr Sriranganathan said.

“It’s an initial proposal and a call for public feedback.

“We want to know what residents think of this idea and what else is important so that we can develop the concept further.”

Stradbroke Cup at Eagle Farm Racecourse. The Greens want the racecourse replaced with public housing, parks and schools. Picture: Liam Kidston

He pointed out that the site was flood-free, close to a train station and the inner-city.

“By retaining public ownership of all the commercial tenancies and using rent from middle-income residential renters to cross-subsidise the housing costs of lower-income renters, the project would be able to pay for itself long-term,” he claimed.

Mr Bates, who has campaigned vigorously against BRC’s plan to take over the former Stafford bowls clubs and install pokies, said his plan would create 35ha of new bush and parks, benefiting residents as far away as those in the Hamilton riverfront high-rise precinct.

Eagle Farm would be replaced by affordable housing under a Greens plan. Picture: David Clark

“The racing industry got this land for free from the government in 1863 on the condition that it would only ever be used for horse racing,’’ Mr Bates said.

“But now, Labor and the LNP are letting them sell off big chunks for private luxury high-rise apartments to cross-subsidise horse racing.

“Public support for horse racing is reaching an all-time low.

“At Eagle Farm racetrack, specifically, attendance numbers have not recovered to pre-pandemic levels,” he claimed.

“It’s only fair that the site should come back into public ownership to create homes, parks, schools and other facilities that will benefit the entire city, rather than just a privileged few.”

Mr Bates said the opened-up area could house new schools in an area earmarked for massive densification, but where no new school sites had been identified by the government.