Canterbury Racecourse: Fears as developers eye up land

There are fears for the future of historic Canterbury racecourse following the expiration of a deal which until recently prevented developers moving in.

Fears from Canterbury locals that they will lose cherished memories and a piece of their history if the racecourse in southwest Sydney is sold off to developers have been swatted away by the Australian Turf Club.

The ATC was bound to not sell off assets like Canterbury and Rosehill for 10 years as part of a 2010 deal merging the Sydney Turf Club and the Australian Jockeys Club.

But with that now expired and the construction industry booming in Sydney locals are concerned one of Sydney’s most beloved racecourses could be turned into tower blocks.

The 35 hectare site is heritage listed. Picture: AAP/Dan Himbrechts

In 2017 the ATC announced it was working with Mirvac to develop “surplus land” on the outskirts of the racecourse.

“There is no plan to stop racing or to sell Canterbury or Rosehill racecourse,” the ATC said on Thursday.

“We continue to hold a highly popular night racing season at Canterbury as well as midweek racing throughout the year.

“ATC always continues to work with Canterbury Bankstown City Council, the NSW Government and the local community in their processes. We were invited and accepted the council’s invitation to be involved with the Canterbury Racecourse Co-ordination group. We all have a role to play.”

The ATC plans to continue racing despite now being allowed to sell the site. Picture: AAP/Dan Himbrechts

The state opposition will move a private members bill in parliament next Tuesday to extend the moratorium for another five years over fears the heritage-listed site could be snapped up and the land turned into a concrete jungle.

Canterbury Racecourse Action Group member Matt Burke said racing was at the heart of the suburb.

“Canterbury was developed around racing,” he said.

“Racing dictated how we were formed, including the train line.

Labor’s Jo Haylen backed the move to ban its sale for a further five years. Picture: NCA Newswire / Gaye Gerard

“It would be a shame if it went to unthought-out development. It is not so much as physically losing a piece of our history it’s more the memories and all the stables that have been there.”

The land was assessed as part of the Sydenham to Bankstown Urban Renewal Corridor Strategy as “ideally suited” to towers up to 18 storeys high in 2017.

Though the ATC has said categorically it plans to retain the racecourses despite the expiry on the sale prohibition.

Canterbury MP Sophie Costis and Summer Hill MP Jo Haylen have been lobbying behind the scenes since the clocked ticked down on the ban of its sale.

“Developers must not be allowed to carve up the racecourse bit by bit to build towers of apartments,” Ms Haylen said.

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