Big high-rise apartment proposal for Canterbury Park course set to be considered

HONG Kong’s Happy Valley Racecourse is surrounded by high-rise apartments. The same may happen to Canterbury Park Racecourse.

Canterbury Park Racecourse could soon be redeveloped to accommodate apartments up to 18-storeys high. Picture: Angelo Velardo

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HONG Kong’s Happy Valley Racecourse is surrounded by high-rise apartments — a place where people can eat, sleep and bet all in the one place.

A similar concept could be coming to Canterbury, after the NSW government flagged its intentions to consider the redevelopment of Canterbury Park Racecourse.

The track could accommodate apartments up to 18-storeys high on the 35ha block, according to the state government’s revised Sydenham to Bankstown Urban Renewal Strategy.

Canterbury Park Racecourse could be headed towards track side apartments, like Happy Valley Racecourse in Hong Kong.

Canterbury Park, owned by the Australian Turf Club, was not included in the initial strategy released in 2015, but was absorbed after “receiving feedback from the community, including from the ATC”.

Its inclusion is the strongest indication yet that the racecourse could be sold.

But CEO of the ATC, Darren Pearce, said just because it is supporting the rezoning doesn’t mean it would support a sale.

“The ATC has no plans to sell the essential racecourse land we hold, but thinks it is wise to use this one-off opportunity to maximise the future potential of the racecourse,” Mr Pearce said.

“(We are) actually further investing in the training facilities and racing program at Canterbury Park as one of Sydney racing’s most important assets.”

A sale is not imminent, says the ATC. Picture: Paul Miller

Mr Pearce said the ATC and Racing NSW are in the process of building a new $3.5 million synthetic training track that he says: “could be used by Sydney horses and trainers, as well as visiting country horses, for many years to come.”

The track is also protected by a moratorium, preventing its sale until 2021.

Located just 250m from Canterbury train station, the racecourse falls within the Canterbury priority precinct that is expected to enable 4000 new homes by 2036.

Canterbury state Labor MP Sophie Cotsis said if the site was redeveloped, congestion would be an issue.

“Residents have already seen thousands of new apartments go up ... now the people of Canterbury are expected to do more heavy lifting to accommodate Sydney’s growing population,” Ms Cotsis said.

The Department of Planning said a master planning process would be developed for the site with community consultation.

There is no time frame yet on the preparation of a Canterbury Park Racecourse master plan.