Decision Maker: Council
Decision status: Recommendations Determined
Minute by the Lord Mayor
To Council:
Wentworth Park was proclaimed in 1885 and is
currently dominated by a greyhound racing track and grandstand which dissects
this significant public parkland.
The former NSW Government committed to return
all of Wentworth Park as public open space for the growing community when the
greyhound lease expires in 2027. This was envisaged in the Pyrmont Peninsula
Place Strategy to plan for future growth.
I am extremely concerned that the NSW
Government is considering reversing the former Government’s commitment by
allowing greyhound racing to continue at Wentworth Park. Considering the former
NSW Government’s commitment, in 2019, the City of Sydney in consultation with
the community, developed a vision for the park when the greyhound lease expires
and the land is returned to the community as public open parkland.
Overwhelmingly, the community supported
removing the greyhound racing track and associated parking and grandstand to
create more public parkland. People told us they want to connect to nature,
have a place for exercise and play that supports social activity and a place
that is easy to move through.
Pyrmont Peninsula Place Strategy
In December 2020, the NSW Government
finalised the Pyrmont Peninsula Place Strategy (PPPS) which provides a 20-year
plan for growth, including 23,000 jobs and 4,000 homes.
One of the actions in the Place Strategy is
to facilitate the return of the Wentworth Park as newly activated, publicly
accessible open space to support the planned growth when the greyhound lease
expires in 2027. When consolidated, Wentworth Park would provide 125,000 square
metres of public open space, similar in size to Hyde Park.
In February 2024, notwithstanding the
previous NSW Government commitment about the greyhound race track as well as
future planning for the Pyrmont Peninsula, the Minister for Lands and Property,
Steve Kamper, and the Minister for Gaming and Racing, David Harris, have
considered supporting Greyhound Racing NSW and the Greyhound Breeders, Owners
and Trainers Association’s proposal to extend its lease after it expires in
2027.
This would reverse the commitment made to the
community and the City by the former NSW Government, that the parkland would be
returned to the community to meet the public open space requirements of the
adopted PPPS.
I have previously written to the NSW
Government urging the honouring of the formal commitment to remove greyhound
racing from Wentworth Park and return the parkland to the public as part of the
PPPS. I have also requested NSW Government Ministers meet to discuss their
plans for this important public parkland. Even though meetings with greyhound
racing groups have been held, Government Ministers have not agreed to meet with
the City.
Blackwattle Bay State Significant Precinct
In 2021, Infrastructure NSW (INSW) lodged a
State Significant Precinct (SSP) rezoning proposal for the current Fish Market
site. The proposal was a gross overdevelopment of the site with inadequate
public open space to support the proposed density.
The City’s review argued the need for the
return of Wentworth Park as public open space as proposed in the PPPS. In
response, the NSW Government reduced the scale of the project along with a
commitment to investigate the return of Wentworth Park based on the PPPS.
In July 2024, in response to the NSW
Government’s new housing targets, INSW is planning to increase density from
1,200 to around 1,500 new homes. This increase reinforces the need for the
return of Wentworth Park to meet growing demand.
Ultimo Pyrmont Planning Proposal
The City has been tasked by the NSW
Government to deliver 18,900 new private homes by July 2029.
The City’s draft Ultimo Pyrmont Planning
Proposal can deliver up to 4,100 additional homes for 8,000 people and space
for 23,000 jobs. Following 2 years of planning and early consultation, the
proposal was placed on formal public exhibition in late-2024 and will soon be
reported to Council with a final recommendation.
The proposal is a direct response to
Direction 9 of the PPPS, which focuses on housing growth and opportunities for
more social and affordable rental housing in residential areas including around
Wentworth Park.
Returning Wentworth Park to the public and
removing the greyhound racing track, its stand, carparking, and surrounding
infrastructure ensures open space to support this increase in density, rather
than the NSW Government having to purchase costly private land for this
purpose.
If the NSW Government allows greyhound racing
to remain at Wentworth Park beyond 2027, it may jeopardise the urgent delivery
of housing in this area. It will require the Ultimo Pyrmont Planning Proposal,
the associated Contributions Plan and increased density to be reconsidered. The
NSW Government and the City may also need to consider providing the required
alternative open space in locations currently proposed for housing.
It is also critical that the NSW Government
invests in additional and expanded active and public transport options in the
area to meet the growing demand for more light rail, bus and ferry services, as
well as safe walking and separated cycling connections. This includes essential
upgrades to the L1 light rail line noting the operator’s investigations into
ways to achieve this.
Animal welfare
This parkland should be for the benefit of
the wider community, not for the exclusive use of an industry that has admitted
to killing up to 17,000 healthy dogs each year, has been shown to live-bait,
and causes real problems and suffering for people with a gambling problem.
Reforms introduced by former NSW Governments have not improved animal welfare.
It was devastating when the former NSW Government backflipped on its decision
to ban greyhound racing in 2017.
Since
2020, 36 dogs have been killed and 1,576 injured at Wentworth Park. The number
of dogs killed does not include the many who are put down because of their
injuries. In 2024, 5 dogs were killed and 391 dogs injured at Wentworth Park,
which is truly heartbreaking. The greyhound racing track at Wentworth Park
recorded the sixth-highest number of injuries in Australia in 2024. This year
alone, there have already been 16 greyhound deaths and 1,240 injured across
Australia.
Following damning reports by former Greyhound
Racing NSW Chief Veterinary Officer, Dr. Alex Brittan, greyhound racing is
subject to an Inquiry by the Greyhound Welfare and Integrity Commission. The
Commissioner’s report is due on 30 April 2025. To progress or further
investigate any proposal to retain greyhound racing at Wentworth Park before
that report is irresponsible.
COUNCILLOR
CLOVER MOORE AO
Lord Mayor
Moved by
the Chair (the Lord Mayor) –
It is resolved that:
(A) Council note that:
(i)
in
2022, the City of Sydney consulted with the community and developed a community
vision for Wentworth Park for when the greyhound lease expires and the land is
returned to the public;
(ii)
the NSW
Government's Pyrmont Peninsula Place Strategy provides a 20-year plan for
housing and jobs growth and commits to facilitating the return of Wentworth
Park to support this growth;
(iii)
the new
Sydney Fish Market and proposed redevelopment of the current Fish Market site
into housing will have significant impacts on the local community around
Wentworth Park;
(iv)
in
response to the Pyrmont Peninsula Place Strategy, the City of Sydney developed
draft planning controls to deliver the housing and jobs growth outlined in the
strategy; and
(v)
the
City of Sydney remains opposed to the cruel practice of greyhound racing;
(B)
the
Chief Executive Officer be requested to:
(i)
develop
a concept plan for a reunited Wentworth Park in response to the community
consultation and vision;
(ii)
incorporate
the impact of the new Sydney Fish Market and proposed housing development at
the current Fish Market site and the associated impacts on local residents in
the development of the City’s concept plan;
(iii)
promote
the City's proposal through its various communication channels; and
(iv)
allocate
appropriate resources in the 2025/26 budget;
(C)
the
Lord Mayor be requested to write to:
(i)
the
Minister for Agriculture, Tara Moriarty, and the Minister for Local Government,
Ron Hoenig, who are responsible for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act
1979 reiterating Council's longstanding concerns about the cruel practice of
greyhound racing at Wentworth Park; and
(ii)
the Minister for Roads and Transport, John Graham,
about investment needed in additional and augmented active and public transport
options including the L1 light rail, to support planned growth around Wentworth
Park; and
(D)
when
the City's concept plan is finalised, the Lord Mayor be requested to write to:
(i)
the
Premier, Chris Minns, the Minister for Lands and Property, Steve Kamper, the
Minister for Planning and Public Spaces, Paul Scully, and the Minister for
Gaming and Racing, David Harris, to request a meeting to present the City's
proposal and consultation report; and
(ii)
the
Federal Member for Sydney, Tanya Plibersek, and the NSW Member for Balmain,
Kobi Shetty, with a copy of the City's proposal asking for their support.
The Minute,
as varied by consent, was carried unanimously.
S051491
Report author: Erin Cashman
Publication date: 17/02/2025
Date of decision: 17/02/2025
Decided at meeting: 17/02/2025 - Council
Accompanying Documents: