ATC looking to sell surplus land - but it won’t deliver a windfall

Barrister Tim Hale speaks for the first time since taking on the chairmanship of the Australian Turf Club following the decision by members to vote down a proposal to sell Rosehill Racecourse for $5 billion.

New ATC Chairman Tim Hale SC in his Sydney chambers. Picture: Jonathan Ng

New Australian Turf Club chairman Tim Hale has emerged from the war over the failed proposal to sell Rosehill Gardens for housing to float a cut down property deal that keeps the west Sydney racetrack intact.

The Sydney barrister was appointed this week to replace Peter McGauran, who resigned after members voted in May to block a $5 billion sale that would have seen the course demolished for a 25,000 home mini-city.

Mr Hale opposed the move to sell Rosehill but told The Daily Telegraph his Board would now consider an earlier plan to offload “surplus land” around the course to deliver 5000 dwellings.

But Mr Hale conceded there was little chance of a Metro station being built at Rosehill on any downsized deal. According to property experts, that would also scuttle the prospect of a windfall for the ATC coffers.

Rick Graf from Billbergia, a property company with land in the area, told this masthead before the ATC vote that unless the racetrack sale proceeded, the government would never green light a Metro station and the value of the club’s real estate holding would likely plummet by 80 per cent.

New ATC Chairman Tim Hale in his Sydney chambers. Picture: Jonathan Ng

In his first interview since taking the job, Mr Hale also told The Daily Telegraph there were no barriers to controversial MP Mark Latham – who strongly opposed a Rosehill sale – from re-applying for ATC membership after his recent resignation.

Mr Latham applauded the appointment of the new chairman on social media and has previously referred to him as “the great Tim Hale”.

Mark Latham. Picture: Jeremy Piper.

“Mark Latham is not a member of the ATC at the moment,” Mr Hale said. “It’s really a matter for him whether he wishes to reapply or not. If he does the usual processes will be gone through.

“I’ve known Mark since he was Mayor of Liverpool when I was a barrister doing work for Liverpool Council. So I’ve known him a long time. I’ve never been to his house, he’s never been to mine. But we see each other at the races.”

The Daily Telegraph asked Mr Hale whether trainer Gai Waterhouse should have had such a prominent voice in the Save Rosehill campaign given she had not been to the track since the Covid-19 pandemic.

“I’d prefer not to comment,” he said. “I want to put this behind us and unite us all.”

Gai Waterhouse celebrates after a win. Picture: Getty Images

Victorian Racing Club directors Vin Cox and Neil Werrett were also in the Save Rosehill camp, opposing a sale that could have delivered $5 billion to the Sydney-based ATC.

“I don’t see us as competitors,” Mr Hale said. “I get on well with Vin … we refereed Rugby together … and Neil I know well. My approach is to win people over rather than approach things too aggressively.”

Mr Hale declined to comment on Mr McGauran’s remarks that “the potential sale of Rosehill Gardens was a lost opportunity for the club and the wider racing industry”.

However, he was happy to praise Racing NSW CEO Peter V’landys, whose creation of The Everest has delivered big crowds and a younger audience to what is the richest race in the country.

“I have enormous regard for him,” Mr Hale said. “I’ve known him for quite a long time. I have a good relationship with him.”

Originally published as ATC looking to sell surplus land - but it won’t deliver a windfall