Demolition will begin on prized inner-city land a year earlier than expected, after a surprise deal was struck to run the final races at a famous greyhound track.
Sydney’s Wentworth Park will hold its final race meeting in October, replacing 94 years of racing history with a suite of sporting fields and open space for residents.
The Greyhound Breeders, Owners and Trainers Association was granted an early termination of its lease over the historic site allowing the government to accelerate restoration works, NSW Planning Minister Paul Scully said on Thursday.
Animal Justice Party Reacts
Prominent advocates including Animal Justice Party MP Emma Hurst likened the track’s early closure to removing the heart of the industry in NSW.
“Greyhound racing is a dying industry — and the early closure of Wentworth Park is one more nail in its coffin,” she said.
“Wentworth Park belongs to the public, not an industry that kills dogs as a hobby. Its early return is a victory for greyhounds, the local community and everyone who has fought to save dogs from cruelty at this track.”
Final Race and Demolition
Wentworth Park’s final meeting will be the world’s richest greyhound race — the Million Dollar Chase — before bulldozers roll in to demolish the grandstand and racing infrastructure.
The City of Sydney will manage the expanded 14-hectare precinct which will be one of the state government’s flagship new housing projects.
More than 7000 homes are slated for the precinct as well as 20 sports fields, according to a plan released in December.
Supporting Population Growth
Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore said the redevelopment would help support the area’s rapid population growth.
“They’re planning about 23,000 to 27,000 jobs and 4500 to 4800 homes so it’s an absolute necessity that Wentworth Park is available for essential open space for those people living in such high densities,” she told ABC Radio Sydney.
“The thinking is that it can handle more [housing], but it could only do that if it had areas like Wentworth Park for people to be able to get some healthy air.”
Wentworth Park borders the old Sydney Fish Market site set for housing development and is within walking distance of the new Pyrmont Metro station, making it a prime target for government renewal.
“This green space will become the backyard for the area, expanding on the public domain around the Sydney Fish Markets to support thousands of new homes,” Scully said.
Industry Transition
The closure of the 3000-seat venue is a blow to Sydney-based racegoers as it leaves the city with only one greyhound track at Richmond, on the city’s northwest fringe.
Racing Minister David Harris said the state’s greyhound industry will be given $10 million in government assistance to transition racing to other tracks.
“This transition will support the industry to continue in regional communities supporting thousands of jobs and upgrading tracks across the state,” Harris said.
Wentworth Park was not meant to close until 2027 but the association has requested an early termination in what is a tumultuous time for the industry.
A scathing review in December found safety standards for dogs had not been implemented for more than five years and no chief veterinarian had been appointed.
