Costs of Moore Park golf course carve-up unknown, Minns minsiter admits

The Minns government hasn’t yet properly costed its plan to chop Moore Park golf course in half, despite dismissing claims it could cost the taxpayers as much as $200 million.

Controversial plans to chop Moore Park golf course in half have yet to be properly costed by the Minns government, despite Planning Minister Paul Scully dismissing claims it could cost the taxpayers as much as $200 million.

Under the controversial plan, the 18-hole public golf course would be reduced to nine holes, with 20 hectares put aside for a new central park.

The Daily Telegraph revealed in February that the plans could cost up to $200 million.

But Mr Scully said in budget estimates on Tuesday he believed the $200 million figure was plucked “out of the air”.

The figure was first presented in a submission by the Moore Park Golf Collective, which is a consortium of golf bodies opposed to the course carve-up.

Aerial images of Moore Park Golf Course and driving range as it is pictured today. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

“I’ve heard this number bandied around and from what I can see it’s a bit made up,” Mr Scully said.

“I think that is the broadest of broad brush estimates of what something could cost if you were to do some elements.

“I think what we should be concentrating on is what number comes up with respect to design.”

Yet despite dismissing the $200 million figure, Mr Scully said he had yet to see any other costings at all on the proposal.

He is also yet to be privy to any designs for a smaller golf course, which are currently being drawn up by Greater Sydney Parklands.

Treasurer Daniel Mookhey allocated just $2.6 million in the budget over four years for the design and planning works to slash the course.

Planning and Public Spaces Minster Paul Scully speaking at the Budget Estimates at the NSW parliament in Sydney. Picture: Christian Gilles / NewsWire

Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore has for years called for the golf course to be slashed in half. Yet, despite Ms Moore’s strong advocacy for the project, City of Sydney will only allocate $3 million towards it in 2032/33.

Save Moore Park Golf Course campaign leader Jared Kendler said the government should have had a better idea of what the proposal would cost before publicly announcing it.

“The challenge of any government who listens to Clover Moore is that they will get half-baked, uncosted ideas that are not implementable and do not take into consideration the full economics of place-based decisions,” he said.

Save Moore Park Golf Course campaign leader Jared Kendler on the course. Photographer: Ted Lamb

Mr Kendler said an alternative plan presented to the Minns government by the Moore Park Golf Collective last year to retain the 18-hole course while finding 15 hectares of open space for “active and passive recreation” would cost far less.

The Collective is a consortium comprising Golf Australia, PGA of Australia, Golf NSW and Moore Park Golf Club.

“It is a more feasible option that would give all parts of the community what they want while doing it in a way that is economically sustainable,” Mr Kendler said.

In response to the alternative proposal, Mr Scully said on Tuesday that it would be looked at.

“I’ve seen the proposal from the Golf Collective and it will be one of the considerations when we develop the plans for Moore Park … along with the 8000 other submissions that came through,” he said.