Dutton Opposition pledges $1m for sports facilities to help save Moore Park

The debate over the Moor Park Golf Course has gone federal with the Liberal candidate for Wentworth claiming a Dutton government would deliver $1m for a “youth recreation zone” that will enable the 18-hole course to be retained.

The Dutton Opposition has joined the fight to save Moore Park Golf Course, committing $1 million to build a multi-sport “youth recreation zone” as part of a plan to keep an 18-hole golf course while delivering 15 hectares of new public space.

Opposition sports spokeswoman Anne Ruston made the commitment at Moore Park Golf Course on Monday, alongside Liberal candidate for Wentworth Ro Knox.

Ms Knox said the funding would help the community she wants to represent.

“Almost 30 per cent of people that come here are from the Wentworth community,” Ms Knox said.

“This will make a huge difference to our whole community, and we’re so passionate about getting kids out there playing sport and ensuring a multi generational game like golf can continue”.

Ms Ruston said the funding would help retain the 18-hole golf course while ensuring space for other sports.

Liberal candidate for Wentworth Ro Knox (right) swinging for an electoral hole-in one. Picture: Rohan Kelly

“Keeping the golf course (while) making sure that there are other facilities for young people in this community to be able to get out and be active … is just so important,” she said.

“We want to make sure that Australians are active, because an active Australia is a healthy Australia, and nothing could be more important about making sure we’ve got a healthy nation.”

“An elected Dutton Coalition government will provide the funding to make sure that this multi precinct youth hub goes ahead so that the young people of this area can get access to outdoor areas,” she said.

The Moore Park Golf Collective has proposed a plan to retain an 18-hole course while delivering 15 hectares of green space. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

The money would go towards the Save Moore Park Golf Collective’s proposal for a redesigned 18-hole golf course and other green space.

Save Moore Park Golf Course leader Jared Kendler said the funding would be used to deliver multi-use courts which can be used for sports like “soccer, touch football, netball, (and) European handle.”

They would be replace a flat piece of land currently being used as overflow parking for large events in Moore Park and the Entertainment Quarter.

The Minns plan would cut Moore Park Golf Course to nine holes. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

Mr Minns announced in 2023 that he would hack the golf course down to nine holes to deliver 20 hectares of public parkland to support more housing in one what he says is the “most densely populated part of Australia”.

However, the vast majority of submissions to a public consultation process wanted an 18-hole golf course to be retained.

The Minns government has already spent 40 per cent of the $2.6 million it has put aside for transforming the golf course into new green space.

Chris Minns announced in 2023 he would convert half of Moore Park Golf Course into public parkland, a plan championed by Clover Moore. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Monique Harmer

The Save Moore Park Golf Collective have estimated the state government’s plans for new public parkland could cost at least $250 million, a figure the Premier has rubbished.

Mr Minns has vowed to build new sporting infrastructure as part of the transformation.

Last week, a tranche of internal government documents relating to the future of Moore Park were tabled to parliament.

State Opposition planning spokesman Scott Farlow said the documents revealed the government “isn’t planning very much”.

“The future of Moore Park is not set, and that’s why the government should be looking at an offer like they’ve got from the Moore Park (Golf) Collective,” he said.

Originally published as Dutton Opposition pledges $1m for sports facilities to help save Moore Park