Greens’ plan to turn Brisbane’s Eagle Farm Racecourse into social housing

A 159-year-old iconic heritage-listed Australian racecourse has been earmarked for a controversial plan to fix the housing crisis.

Amid a housing crisis that is seeing rents soaring and affordability spiralling — one mayoral candidate in Brisbane has released a bold plan.

In it, a 159-year-old iconic heritage-listed racecourse has been earmarked for redevelopment into affordable housing and public green space.

The development of the Eagle Farm Racecourse, through a proposed compulsory acquisition, is hoped to be achieved by cutting road projects and increasing infrastructure charges.

The Eagle Farm Racecourse in Ascot, Australia is hoped to be redeveloped into affordable housing and public green space. Photo: Supplied.

Jonathan Sriranganathan, the Greens candidate for Lord Mayor, today released plans to compulsorily acquire the heritage-listed Brisbane Racing Club site in Ascot on Tuesday, ahead of the local government elections.

He believes that around $40 million from council funds would suffice, and a Greens-led council would then seek to partner with the state government to share the costs of housing construction.

Greens Lord Mayoral candidate Jonathan Sriranganathan. The proposed compulsory acquisition of the heritage-listed Brisbane Racing Club site is expected to cost around $40 million. Picture: Richard Walker

The site will have 4000 medium-density dwellings in buildings no higher than five storeys, with commercial units on the ground floor.

This will cover a fifth of the 49ha site.

Half of the homes will be reserved for those on the social housing waiting list and will be rented for 25 per cent of their regular household income.

The other half of the development will consist of affordable housing units that will be available to all Brisbane residents to rent at 30 per cent below market rent.

An older two-bedroom apartment in Ascot can rent for $450-$550 per week, while more modern two-bedroom units in the same area can fetch $600-$650 per week in rent.

The remaining area of the site will be dedicated to the heritage-listed buildings and the under-construction Charlton House apartments, which are part of Mirvac’s Ascot Green development.

The Greens would also allocate 25ha of the site as parkland and community sports fields, with the potential for a new public school and, medical centre and library.

The development will include 4000 medium-density dwellings in buildings no higher than five storeys, with commercial units on the ground floor. Picture: Grant Peters – Trackside Photography

The proposal suggests converting the racetrack into a circuit for walking and cycling.

Under the Acquisition of Land Act 1967, local government has the power to acquire land compulsorily and the party said it hopes a levy on vacant housing would encourage “land-banking” developers to sell up.

“Every suburb needs more affordable homes, but our first major project would be bringing the Eagle Farm racecourse into public hands, transforming the site over time into public green space, housing, schools, services and facilities,” Cr Sriranganathan said.

The New South Wales government announced similar plans for Rosehill racecourse in Sydney’s west. But the plan for 25,000 houses – part of a much larger strategy for hundreds of thousands of homes around metro stations and other public transport infrastructure – is dependent on a vote by members of the Australian Turf Club.

Golf course seized

The controversial plan in Brisbane also comes as the NSW governement has revealed plans to seize half of a premier golf course in central Sydney and turn it into a “central park”.

Premier Chris Minns confirmed in October that nine holes of the Moore Park Golf Course will be transformed.

This means that up to 20 hectares of the public course will be repurposed in a bid to support an estimated 80,000 residents living within two kilometres of the Moore Park area by 2040.

The Green Square urban renewal area is already home to 33,000 people.

The change will see more green space opened up to the general public, with grassroots sports and recreation being prioritised for the new “central park”.

Up until this point the 45 hectares of public land has been used as a golf course, where only paying golfers were given access.

The Premier said local residents – as well as others from metropolitan Sydney – have been asking for more parklands.

Half of Moore Park Golf Course will be turned into parklands. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Monique Harmer

“As the New South Wales government issues more density, more apartment living, more units, we need to balance that with more open space,” he said.

“This will transform people’s experiences as they come into the world’s greatest city with more natural parkland, more recreation space. It’s great opportunity for the residents in this community to get out and have fun with their family and friends in this densely populated area.”

Lord Mayor Clover Moore confirmed a nine hole course will still remain at Moore Park, with the driving range and clubhouse also staying put.

Speaking to golfers who may take issue with the decision, the Premier emphasised that the area is “one of the most densely populated parts of the entire country”.

“I just want to say there are a lot of golf courses in Sydney and we’re not taking over all of them,” he said.

“This community is expected to grow from 30,000 to 80,000 by 2040 in a five kilometre radius of where we’re standing …

“And it’s a recognition by the government that given we are making decisions about urban consolidation, more units, more apartments, there’s got to be more green space too, this has got to be a trade off and this is part of our vision for Sydney.”

Originally published as Greens’ plan to turn Brisbane’s Eagle Farm Racecourse into social housing