Opposition sport spokeswoman Eleni Petinos has criticised the Minns Government over what she described as an opaque and flawed approach to two contentious golf-course projects, warning parliament that “the process isn’t open, it’s not transparent, it’s not credible”.
Her comments come amid escalating pressure on the government to release the business case for its plan to cut Moore Park Golf Course in half to create a new 20-hectare park.
Despite repeated requests since February, Labor has refused to release the documents, citing cabinet-in-confidence.
A motion to censure Government Leader Penny Sharpe passed on Thursday, with Labor ordered to provide the papers by Monday.
The $50 million project will reduce Moore Park Golf Course to nine holes from mid-next year, even though the facility currently earns $17 million annually and funds up to half of Greater Sydney Parklands’ operational budget.
At the same time, the government is facing internal revolt over a proposal to replace Carnarvon Golf Course at Lidcombe with a cemetery.
Auburn MP Lynda Voltz condemned the plan as a “flawed process” and tabled a petition of 14,000 signatures opposing it.
While Lands Minister Steve Kamper warned cemetery space will run out by 2031, he said “at this stage, no decision has been reached”.
Speaking in parliament, Petinos questioned the government’s repeated targeting of golf courses, saying: “We all need access to cemeteries. But why this golf course? And why golf again?”
Source: Daily Telegraph.
