Wentworth Park: Clover Moore fronts bid to end greyhound racing
Clover Moore has spearheaded a bid to end greyhound racing at historic Wentworth Park. Along with her City of Sydney Council colleagues she pledged to return the park “to the public” with COVID-19 showing how important green space is.
Central Sydney
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Clover Moore’s City of Sydney Council has called for an end to greyhound racing at historic Wentworth Park with the land instead returned for public use.
Clover Moore’s City of Sydney Council has called for an end to greyhound racing at historic Wentworth Park with the land instead returned for public use.
The council on Monday night voted eight to two to demand the cessation of racing at the park.
Lord Mayor Clover Moore said COVID-19 restrictions had reminded people just how valuable green space is and demanded Wentworth Park be “in the hands of the community”.
Following the vote, she said she will take the matter up with NSW Better Regulation Minister Kevin Anderson, Property Minister Melinda Pavey, and Public Spaces Minister Rob Stokes.
But the operators of Wentworth Park Greyhounds dismissed the comments and said the Lord Mayor was misstating statistics to create rage.
“I’m surprised to hear that,” Greyhound Breeders, Owners and Trainers Association General Manager Stephen Noyce said.
“I didn’t know that matter was on the agenda last night.
“I’m disappointed because we see ourselves as a part of the local community.”
In a blunt Facebook post on Tuesday afternoon, the Lord Mayor wrote the proposal was for “Wentworth Park be returned to the public”.
“Coronavirus restrictions have reminded us just how valuable parkland is,” she said.
“It doesn’t seem right that so much of Wentworth Park, which sits in the middle of one of the most densely populated neighbourhoods in Australia, is dominated by a greyhound racing track.
“This space should be in the hands of the community, not an industry that has admitted to killing up to 17,000 healthy dogs each year, has been shown to live-bait, and causes problem gamblers real suffering.
“For the many people in Sydney who live in apartments, this space is their backyard, their space to exercise, play, walk the dog or unwind.”
Alongside the post was an image of Wentworth Park, with the greyhound track circled towards the centre of the park.
Mr Noyce said the “statistics she (Clover Moore) quotes are just wrong.
“She’s obviously misstated (those statistics) to create rage or whatever she is trying to do.
“This industry invests millions of dollars each day into track safety programs.
“No one wants to see anything bad happen to a greyhound. Live baiting was well documented on Four Corners ... years ago. We can’t change the past, but the present is not about that,” he continued.
Mr Noyce also referenced the “brand new (NSW Greyhound Welfare) Code of Practice” which was signed off on at the beginning of this month, and will take effect on January 1, 2021.
“Managing the life of greyhound from cradle to crave is the biggest priority,” he said.
“It has made the industry extremely accountable to the community.”
Mr Noyce also said Wentworth Park only occupied one-fifth of the entire park, and the rest was used for school sport, exercise and other activities.
He said Wentworth Park Greyhounds employs 21 people and thousands of others indirectly.
The public responses to the Lord Mayor’s Facebook post were mixed.
“Keep your hands off Greyhound racing,” Lance Day wrote. “You may not know that there are some of your volunteers that frequent the track.”
Adam Norman wrote: “How pathetic, I have beautiful memories of my childhood going to Wentworth Park to see my parents greyhounds race, it was a joy as a kid and a family event, for many.”
Others supported her call for action.
Jordan Kerr wrote: “100% agree! Dog racing is a revolting industry and we need more park spaces.”
Rosie Stevens responded: “Wentworth Park should be for the local residents/ general public to use. There‘s little green space so close to the city. Great idea to hand it back to the residents.”
A Department of Planning, Industry and Environment spokeswoman said: “Wentworth Park is a NSW Government-owned asset and we are committed to its long-term retention as a vital piece of open space in inner-Sydney. It is held under licence for greyhound racing until 2027.
“The Department of Planning, Industry and Environment is leading a review of planning in the Pyrmont Peninsula which will consider, among other things, the open space needs of this growing community.”
Wentworth Park has been used as a greyhound track since 1939, after opening as a park and then a speedway track from 1885.