Buried government report warns Moore Park golf course overhaul has ‘significant financial risk’

Bombshell documents expose $200 million gap between government's promised Moore Park golf course revamp and original business case for the project.

Aerial images of Moore Park Golf Course and driving range as it is pictured today. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

A secret report the government wanted to bury reveals that hacking up Moore Park golf course to create new recreational space could cost almost $250 million of taxpayer money and be laced with financial risk.

Premier Chris Minns insists a planned hatchet job on the championship layout that would see it shrunk from 18 holes to nine, to deliver parkland for nearby residents, will be delivered on a budget of $50 million.

But an original business case for the project – with input from 10 consultancy firms – never considered that bargain basement option.

Delivered in February this year, the bombshell report reviewed four potential ways forward, all requiring over $150m in capital spend, while also warning that under investment for a “new park” would deter visitation and court disaster.

Greater Sydney Parklands currently receives around $7.2 million from golf activities at Moore Park. But the report notes a key risk of the planned revamp, which would result in disruption and falling revenues, “is the ongoing impact to the financial sustainability of GSP”.

“As the responsible entity for the stewardship and management of the Moore Park Golf Club and broader Centennial Parklands, this risk is significant with very serious consequences,” the report continues.

The “preferred option” detailed in the report involved a two-stage delivery of a revamp over eight years at a cost of $245.8m. An operational shortfall of $23m was also expected over that time period.

The revelations have sparked outrage led by key NSW Opposition figures.

Shadow Treasurer Damien Tudehope claims the public has been “misled”, while Opposition planning spokesman Scott Farlow says the government knew the “greatest benefit” was from leaving the golf course untouched.

Golf Australia CEO James Sutherland also wants to open further discussion on the future for Moore Park.

The report preference was a 12-hole golf course, increasing the driving range by 50 per cent to 90 bays, construction of an 18-hole mini-golf facility, additional food and beverage, and a new central hub with function spaces, along with 18 hectares of recreational parkland.

The recreational space was to include playground areas, fitness stations, a pump track, a BMX circuit, a nature fitness course, discovery trail, multi-purpose courts, a community green, paths and landscaping.

Premier Chris Minns insists a planned hatchet job on the championship layout that would see it shrunk from 18 holes to nine, to deliver parkland for nearby residents, will be delivered on a budget of $50 million.

The report further outlined that “none of the options” surveyed “outperform” existing operations at the inner-city site “which benefits from significant financial returns and does not require substantial capital investment”.

It also called out the need for access improvements – including an overhead bridge across South Dowling St to the northern corner of the intersection with Dacey Avenue – if the parkland proposal got the green light.

But the business case did not “investigate in detail the scope, design and cost” of a footbridge that alone could chew up most of the Premier’s $50m budget.

“Park users’ willingness to travel depends on the recreation offer,” the report said. “The location of the site poses challenges for access and connectivity, particularly for residents to the west and southwest.

“(And) higher investment levels are naturally required to induce greater levels of usage and utilisation.

“These access improvements are found to be essential to the proposal’s successful delivery but will be subject to a future business case by Transport for NSW should the proposal proceed.”

Despite the comprehensive nature of the study compiled by the consultants and titled “A proposal to convert part of Moore Park Golf Course to a new park”, the government has turned its back on the report.

Instead, the government is pursuing a recently released Establishment Plan – currently on exhibition for feedback from the community – that they say will be delivered for $50m.

It lists 20 hectares of parkland with assets virtually a mirror image of the February business case, minus a BMX circuit and pump track. The proposal also reduces the golf course further, to nine holes, but keeps the mini-golf facility and the expanded driving range.

The Telegraph approached the government asking if a new business case exists for the $50m plan – around $200m below the cost of the preferred option presented in the report of nine months ago.

A spokesman told The Daily Telegraph: “The NSW Government is not proceeding with the plans in the business case.

“The draft plans for Moore Park South have been unveiled and are currently on public exhibition. This plan costs $50 million.”

The spokesman added: “There’s an existing pedestrian bridge that provides access to the park and the draft plan has considered how we can further improve pedestrian access”.

For months, the Minns Government had refused to release the business case, arguing it was cabinet-in-confidence.

Multiple demands from the Opposition to release the report were refused, stretching as far back as February.

But a motion to censure the government’s Upper House leader Penny Sharpe over the saga was passed last Thursday and Labor was warned it had until Monday this week to release the relevant papers.

Shadow treasurer Damien Tudehope told the Telegraph at the time that Labor was “committed to keeping the public in the dark” over the situation.

The Telegraph also revealed in February that it understood the Moore Park plans could cost up to $200 million.

But Planning Minister Paul Scully told budget estimates early the following month – after the business case had been completed – that he believed the $200 million figure was plucked “out of the air”.

The website housing the Establishment Plan says the government “has committed $50 million” to establishing a 20-hectare park and reconfigured golf course “over the next 3 years” with work to commence after the current operating agreement expires in mid-2026.

Public golfer Liz Melville said the government should reconsider reducing Moore Park from 18 holes.

“This is a valuable place, and it’s an asset that encourages people to get out and socialise, regardless of age,” she said. “There are not many other golf courses around here where you have that public access.”

Additional reporting James Willis

Originally published as Buried government report warns Moore Park golf course overhaul has ‘significant financial risk’