Proposal to move Rosehill racecourse to Olympic Park would protect endangered frog

Racing bosses have devised a plan to move Rosehill racecourse to run around a brick pit at Olympic Park that would preserve the habitat of an endangered frog.

The brick pit Ring walk at Sydney Olympic Park. Picture: Bradley Hunter

Racing bosses have devised a plan to move Rosehill racecourse to run around a brick pit at Olympic Park that would preserve the habitat of an endangered frog.

The new racecourse at Homebush would allow the proposed sale of the Rosehill track to go ahead, clearing the way for a new 25,000 home community that would help address the NSW housing crisis and secure the future of the NSW racing industry.

The Australian Turf Club proposal to sell Rosehill for $5bn won the support of the NSW Government. Premier Chris Minns said he was “very confident” the “once in a generation” opportunity would go ahead.

“It’s clear that the ATC wants to do this … and we want it to happen as well,” Mr Minns said last year.

However leading trainers including Chris Waller and Gai Waterhouse have vocally opposed the plan with concerns that alternatives such as moving racing to Warwick Farm is too far for racegoers to travel.

A green and golden bell frog at Sydney Olympic Park.

The Daily Telegraph understands the proposal for a new track at Sydney Olympic Park just 5km from the existing facilities at Rosehill would resolve their concerns and give racegoers access to existing transport facilities including the train station.

The brick pit at Olympic Park behind the GIANTS stadium is home to the endangered green and golden bell frogs and has been left untouched as a result.

Racing bosses believe they can build the new track around the sunken brick pit leaving the current elevated walkway and surrounding area untouched. The pit and environmentally sensitive area would sit inside the new racecourse and remain open to the public.

“This is probably the only proposal for the use of this land that can exist symbiotically with the endangered frogs,” one insider said.

The plan would see a new boutique grandstand for 25,000 people built at the site with a suite of community facilities to help bring the currently under-utilised area to life.

The grandstand would cost in the region of $100m but there is no estimate on the cost of the land.

The new track would be built and take over Rosehill’s existing schedule of around 20 meetings a year seamlessly the day Rosehill is closed.

The ATC needs the agreement of 50 per cent of its 11,000 members to get the Rosehill sale through. Racing bosses believe that securing a new track close to the existing one would go a long way to persuade them to vote in favour.

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