Leading business figures are intensifying their calls for the replacement of horse racing with residential development at Rosehill Racecourse in Sydney, following a disappointing turnout for one of Australia’s premier racing events.
Only 10,493 spectators attended the $10 million Golden Eagle at Rosehill on Saturday, November 2, a stark contrast to the over 49,000 who filled the stands at a sold-out Royal Randwick just two weeks earlier for The Everest.
In light of the low attendance figures, the Australian Turf Club (ATC) is currently engaging with the NSW Government on a proposal to redevelop the Rosehill racecourse precinct into a mini-city, complete with a Metro station. This ambitious plan aims to inject billions of dollars into the racing industry and revitalise the area.
Business Sydney Executive Director Paul Nicolaou endorsed the Rosehill redevelopment, declaring it offers an opportunity “that instantly stands out as one that should be embraced wholeheartedly.”
“A thriving racing industry is important to Sydney, important to NSW, and this proposal could see them secure their financial future while creating new assets and investing into other existing facilities,” he added.
“Rosehill has been much loved but the crowd on Saturday compared to the fans who attended The Everest at Randwick? That has to tell you something.”
Mr Nicolaou added that “Rosehill will also help to deliver our city’s housing targets and would blend perfectly with the ‘three roads strategy’ of Business Sydney and Business Western Sydney for higher density housing along a redeveloped Parramatta Road, Victoria Road and Great Western Highway.”
“We’ve already seen the positive impact of the Sydney Metro extension through the heart of the CBD,” he said.
“It is now possible to visualise what it would mean to Western Sydney to have a station at Rosehill on the Sydney Metro West line that is currently under construction to link the Sydney and Parramatta CBDs with 21st Century public transport.”
While there has been some push-back to the proposed sale from within racing quarters (led by Rosehill-based Chris Waller and fellow trainer Gai Waterhouse), the proposal is now in its second process stage. Valuations will be finalised and plans to establish new and alternative facilities confirmed before any recommendation to sell is put to the ATC membership.
A simple majority would be required to pass any resolution, and if the proposal was endorsed it would head back to Government for final approval.
Source: Daily Telegraph.
