Minns announced Moore Park plan before financial implications were considered

Internal government documents reveal Chris Minns’ plan to hack Moore Park Golf Course in half for public parkland was announced before the financial implications were fully assessed.

NSW Premier Chris Minns pictured at his office. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

Premier Chris Minns announced plans to hack Moore Park Golf Course in half before government beancounters had considered how the decision would impact the financial implications.

Internal government documents released via an order of parliament reveal that when Mr Minns made the announcement, the financial implications were “still to be worked through”.

In an all-staff email sent the day after the 2023 announcement, Greater Sydney Parklands boss Joshua French said cutting the course in half was “likely” to lead to a “reduction to revenues to GSP”.

Moore Park Golf Course provides about $7 million in revenue every year to GSP, which maintains the surrounding parkland.

The funding represents about 68 per cent of the Centennial Park and Moore Park Trust’s net income.

During the consultation process following the announcement, the government was warned that cutting into Moore Park Golf Course would significantly impact revenue which pays to maintain surrounding parklands.

The Minns government has so far only allocated $2.6 million in planning funding to turn the golf course into public parkland.

Aerial images of Moore Park Golf Course and driving range. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

It comes after The Daily Telegraph revealed a bureaucrat warned sports codes not to be “fooled” by the Premier’s promise of new sporting facilities - which would require “mass tree clearing”.

Mr Minns yesterday conceded the government may have to “move” a number of trees to create the new park.

“People shouldn’t be fooled by this: it’s not a forest at the moment, it’s a golf course,” he said.

“My view is we can have what we need on the site, which is open space, tree canopies, as well as organised sport.

“We’re hopeful of having the land at some point in 2026 and it’ll be a brand new, open place for Sydney to play in the not too distant future.”

Mr Minns said

Premier Chris Minns. Premier Chris Minns. Picture: NewsWire / John Appleyard

Meanwhile, City of Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore has launched a fresh salvo on those opposed to hacking the championship golf course in half.

In her latest rate-payer funded newsletter, Ms Moore complained that there had been a “coordinated campaign” against the Premier’s plans to convert 20 hectares of the golf course to public parkland.

She said residents near Moore Park “have shouldered the brunt of increased density” and “desperately need walking access to open parkland”.

Aerial images of Moore Park Golf Course and driving range. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

Ms Moore lives in Redfern, almost directly opposite the current golf course.

The Lord Mayor’s spokesman said Ms Moore “did not make a formal (conflict of interest) disclosure” when advocating for Moore Park to be turned into public parkland, “because it was not required by the City of Sydney’s Code of Conduct”.

“Access to a new park created from part of Moore Park Golf will be a service enjoyed by all members of the public,” he said.

“While a formal declaration was not required, it is no secret the Lord Mayor is a proud Redfern resident.

“The Lord Mayor has consistently advocated for and delivered additional parkland across the entirety of the LGA.”

Originally published as Minns announced Moore Park plan before financial implications were considered