Sydney council submit plans to cut Moore Park Golf Course in half

Australian city councils are looking for green space for residents of newly constructed high-density living. And part Sydney’s Moore Park Golf Course could be the first to go.

Sydney Morning Herald’s Megan Gorrey has reported on the City of Sydney’s plans to half the number of holes at Moore Park Golf Course.

The council has reportedly submitted two proposals which would see one of Australia’s most popular and lucrative golf courses cut down to a 9-hole golf course.

There are a couple of paragraphs in particular, that sum up a few issues with the plans, led by Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore: the scramble for green space for over-developed high-density residential areas, and the mistruths about the decline in golf participation.

“The proposed Waterloo [estate redevelopment] alone will see an additional 15 to 20,000 people. By 2040 up to 90,000 additional people could be living within a catchment less than 2 kilometres from Moore Park.”

She said participation in golf was dropping and golfers were “well-catered for”, with 12 courses – six of which were accessible to the general public – were located within 12 kilometres of Moore Park.

“Today, 31 million people visit Centennial Parklands while just 60,000 rounds of golf are played on the Moore Park Golf Course each year.”

Just 60,000 rounds?

Liberal councillor Christine Forster has responded and looks to be going into bat for Moore Park Golf Course.

The council will spend $50,000 on a community consultation plan for the proposal if the minute is adopted – a move Cr Forster said would be a “disgraceful” waste of ratepayer’s money.

Cr Forster said the full course should be kept as it was a “historic public open space gem within a stone’s throw of the CBD”.

“It is loved and heavily used by locals and visitors alike. It is financially viable and makes a significant contribution to ensuring the surrounding extensive parklands can remain open and accessible by all.”