Moore Park Golf Club: NSW government to spend $939k on consultancy costs for conversion of golfing greens

Almost $1m will be spent on consultancy fees to come up with ‘preliminary design’ to convert a huge section of an inner Sydney golfing course into public parkland.

Golfers have taken a shot at the NSW government after it was revealed almost a million dollars will be spent on consultancy fees to come up with design plans to carve up half of Sydney’s Moore Park Golf Course into public open space.

Tender documents have revealed design company Hassell has won a $938,932 government contract to undertake “preliminary design and planning works” for the contentious plan to turn nine holes of the 18-hole club into parkland.

The contract for works comes weeks after an alliance of golf organisations submitted a counter proposal to the government aimed at retaining the current 18-hole course while also achieving the government’s goal of providing more community facilities in under-utilised areas of the site.

The proposal included 3km of new walking, running and cycling tracks, mini golf and futsal facilities, a BMX pump track and a nature reserve

Jared Kendler, the leader of Save Moore Park Golf, argues the government could saved the six-figure consultancy fee by giving greater consideration into proposal out forward by the alliance.

Half of the golf course would be converted under the government’s proposal for the site.

“I think it would be silly for anyone to not consider what was put forward by those who are experts in the golf course and who know best how that space works,” he said.

“My fear is that external consultants aren’t as familiar with the site and I think any planning work going forward should involve the golfers.

“There are a lot of constraints with the site and the challenge the government has had from the start is that they’ve made an announcement before trying to figure out what’s possible.”

Jared Kendler.

Multiple golfing bodies have backed a push to retain the golf course.

Premier Chris Minns and Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore have both backed the conversion, arguing community open space was “critically needed” to support the inner city’s growing population.

Public consultation into the conversion, however, showed just 30 per cent of respondents supported the conversion while 55 per cent wanted the golf course retained.

The push to save the club has also attracted support from heavy hitters including Hollywood star Mark Wahlberg.

An overview of the counter proposal for the site.

A spokeswoman for NSW government’s Greater Sydney Parklands said the contract awarded to Hassell would assist in “undertaking planning and design work” for the conversion and “incorporating feedback” that was received during consultation into the design.

“The project is complex and involves multiple components that need to be considered together,” the spokeswoman said in a statement.

“This requires a specialised skill set in landscape and open space design.”

The NSW Government has not provided details of exactly how much it intends to spend on the conversion with last year’s state budget only committing $2.6m towards “preliminary design and planning works”.

Mr Lender said the estimated cost of delivering the counter proposal would tally around $40m.

The City of Sydney’s latest budget meanwhile pledged $10 million over 10 years for the planned conversion.

The planned conversion has attracted hundreds of submissions from the public.

The Greater Sydney Parklands said the full cost of the conversion “would respond to the scope (of works) under development”.

NSW Planning Minister Paul Scully said a design for the conversion is expected to be released in 2025 and that “discussions with the community and stakeholders will continue”.

The proposed conversion works would be undertaken after the expiry of current golf course operating agreements which are due to lapse in mid-2026.

The NSW Government says the provision of new community space will support increased density in inner Sydney with 790,000 people expected to live within 5km of the golf course by 2041.