Macquarie Ice Rink set for demolition to make way for Macquarie Centre upgrade

Sydney’s much-loved Macquarie Ice Rink — home to the nation’s two biggest ice-hockey teams — will be bulldozed to make way for a new retail podium at the Macquarie shopping centre.

Sydney Ice Dogs verse Perth Thunder at the Macquarie Ice Rink, which is now facing demoliton. Pictures: Jeffrey Reingold

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Australia’s premier ice rink will be bulldozed next year as part of a $195 million redevelopment of the Macquarie Centre.

The Northern District Times can exclusively reveal the iconic, Olympic-sized rink — home to the nation’s two biggest ice-hockey teams, Sydney Ice Dogs and Sydney Bears — will be thawed out to make way for a new retail podium at the shopping centre.

Devastated owner Dr Frank Gregg — who has run the business for the past four decades — had just given the site a $3.5 million ice-lift last year and now faces having to lay off dozens of staff and coaches, and disappoint the tens of thousands of people who skate on the rink each year.

Epping ice skater Brendan Kerry was the first athlete selected to represent Australia at last year’s Winter Olympics. He’s pictured training at Macquarie Ice Rink.

Steven Bradbury famously wins gold in the men’s 1000m short-track finals at the Salt Lake City Winter Olympic Games in 2002.

“This is terribly disappointing, to say the least,” Dr Gregg, a retired doctor, said. “This rink has been a big part of the community for so long; there’s nothing else like it in Australia.

“And AMP haven’t been completely aboveboard in their dealings with me. There was no notice of this redevelopment before I spent all that money upgrading the ice rink.

“There’s no doubt it’s now the best ice rink in Australia. I’ve been around the world and it stacks up among the cream of ice rinks anywhere.”

Near-capacity crowd for the clash between the Sydney Bears and Sydney Ice Dogs at Macquarie Ice Rink

wCrowds consistently packed the stadium to see the Bears and Ice Dogs play.

It has also produced many Olympians, including speed skater Steven Bradbury and ice skater Brendan Kerry, who competed at the PyeongChang Games last year.

AMP Capital revealed Stage 2 plans to redevelop the shopping centre earlier this week, but it failed to disclose how it would freeze out the much-loved ice rink.

“They’ve already told me they are pulling down the place,” Dr Gregg said. “And Ryde Council knew about this because of the four towers that are going up around the centre.

“We just bring in so many people each week.

“The ice rink has been a place of enjoyment for so many people, as well as a competition venue.”

A Ryde Council spokesman said the closure was “not a matter” for the council.

“The concept application for the redevelopment of the Macquarie Shopping Centre was approved by the Former Sydney East Joint Regional Planning Panel (in 2016) ... but whether or not this includes an ice rink is a commercial decision for AMP Capital,” the spokesman said.

AMP Capital Divisional Development director Ben Matthews said to improve links from the shopping centre to the train station and create a public plaza, “the proposal will impact the space where the ice rink is currently located”.

“The proposed redevelopment firmly embeds the centre as a destination for the community with the creation of the civic space and improving the connections to public transport and our neighbours,” Mr Matthews said.

Plans for a $195m upgrade of the Macquarie Centre have been unveiled, which will see the ice rink demolished.

“We want to continue to offer unique leisure and entertainment attractions for our customers, but as a shopping and entertainment destination first and foremost, we can’t provide a sports facility that is designed for elite athletes and international competitions.”

National Ice Hockey League club the Bears said it was focused on the upcoming 2019 season, which will go ahead at Macquarie Ice Rink as planned.

“We will, however, continue to work with both the rink and AMP on next steps and what this means for the club as new developments unfold,” a Bears spokeswoman said.