<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?> <docID>340272</docID> <postdate>2025-03-13 12:23:24</postdate> <headline>Historic racecourse tipped to go into public hands</headline> <body><p><img class="size-full wp-image-340273" src="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/20240724187711392933-original-resized.jpg" alt="" width="900" height="600" /></p> <caption>The NSW government will be given the option to buy the 140-year-old Rosehill Gardens racecourse. (Mick Tsikas/AAP PHOTOS)</caption> <p><span class="kicker-line">By <strong>Farid Farid</strong> in Sydney</span></p> <p><strong>Taxpayers could become the new owners of a historic racecourse as part of a controversial billion-dollar plan to convert the site into a "mini city" with thousands of homes.</strong></p> <p>The NSW government will be given the option to buy the 140-year-old Rosehill Gardens racecourse in western Sydney for $5 billion, in the latest twist for a divisive proposal to redevelop the site.</p> <p>Owner the Australian Turf Club has put forward the last-ditch proposal ahead of a crucial internal vote on the sale plan, due to take place early in April.</p> <p>Proceeds from the potential sale, which the club wants paid in instalments over 15 years, would be poured into expanding stables and training facilities at other racing sites in Sydney.</p> <p>It would also go towards building a proposed hotel at its premiere track in Randwick.</p> <p>Premier Chris Minns said the potential redevelopment of Rosehill was a "massive opportunity" for Sydney, leaving the door open to the state buying the site.</p> <p>"It's really up to (turf club) members to make the decision about the future of Rosehill - if they do that, then we get to the next stage, which is a negotiation," he said on Thursday.</p> <p>Those talks were likely to be "long and laborious" and the state would need to ensure taxpayers were getting value for money, he said.</p> <p>The latest unsolicited proposal from the turf club is a departure from an initial pitch to the government in late 2023 for a major rezoning of the site as part of a plan to sell the land to private developers.</p> <p>The proposal included the vision for a "mini city" near Parramatta featuring 25,000 homes serviced by driverless metro services.</p> <p>But since then, the club has faced an uphill battle to get the massive project off the ground.</p> <p>Several high-profile industry figures and turf club members have publicly campaigned against the sale, including acclaimed trainers Gai Waterhouse and Chris Waller.</p> <p>The revised proposal is due to go to a membership vote on April 3.</p> <p>Club chairman Peter McGauran described the upcoming vote as the "most important and consequential" of the industry body's history, urging every member to make their voice heard.</p> <p>"This proposal offers a one-off opportunity to make the ATC the most financially secure racing club in the world," he said in a statement published late on Wednesday.</p> <p>"The truth is it (Rosehill Gardens) is an outdated venue with declining crowds and this proposal can rejuvenate and secure the racing industry for many generations to come."</p> <p>In addition to internal opposition, the potential redevelopment hit a stumbling block in late 2024 over claims Mr Minns failed to reveal a conflict of interest flowing from his long-time friendship with turf club official Steve McMahon.</p> <p>The claims were raised by a Liberal-led committee following a parliamentary probe into the Rosehill proposal.</p> <p>In December, the Independent Commission Against Corruption found no evidence of wrongdoing by the premier.</p> </body>