Battle for Moore Park

A war of words has erupted over a plan to transfer management of Moore Park to the Sydney Cricket and Sports Ground Trust.

In a statement on Friday June 4, trustees of the Centennial Park and Moore Park Trust rejected the “secret proposal”, arguing the SCG Trust is responsible for looking after the interests of its members and sporting venues, not the wider community.

SCG Trust Chairman Rodney Cavalier released a competing statement saying he wanted to “correct the record and to state how, if approved by Cabinet, the SCG Trust will enhance the Moore Park lands”.

He said the SCG was seeking trusteeship specifically of the “land on the other side of Driver Avenue, a proposal we have put to the Government since 1999”.

All existing public uses of the park would continue, he said, adding the SCG would put a stop to noisy concerts at Moore Park.

Mr Cavalier gave an “iron clad guarantee” there would be no increase in the number of car spaces and no building of a permanent car park.

“In the last three years we have reduced the number of car spaces and increased the number of playing fields,” he said.

He said all proceeds from Moore Park would be spent in Moore Park and on public transport.

The SCG would also introduce additional exits and entries to improve traffic flows during sporting events.

Centennial Park Trust Chair John Walker said he could not say which sections of Moore Park’s 115 hectares would be affected under the proposal.

“We have not been told,” he said. “If there is a proposal it should be put out in the public arena for discussion and if there is a change, it should be by an Act of Parliament.”

The Trust will lodge a Freedom of Information request with Communities NSW to find out the details of the proposal.

The key issue, Mr Walker said, was the management of public lands.

“This is not a turf war … It’s about public lands being protected for public use. The SCG is not a public body or a public trust and under its Act there is no process for public consultation,” he said.
“Under the Centennial Park Trust Act, any changes need to be legislated by both houses of parliament.”
Mr Walker dismissed the claim concerts were taking a toll on the park, saying there was only one concert held at Moore Park annually.

He said recommendations for improving entrances and exits had already been budgeted for this year.

This year’s budget also includes $3 million to fix land opposite the SCG and $250,000 to improve the clubhouse at the Moore Park Golf Course.

The loss of Moore Park and its public golf course, tennis courts and car parks would take up to 70 per cent of income from the Centennial Park Trust operating fund.
“For the last 10 consecutive years, the government has cut funding to Centennial Park. If it takes away our ability to raise revenue, the taxpayer will be picking up the extra cost.”

Wentworth MP Malcolm Turnbull, Waverley mayor Sally Betts and City of Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore have all spoken out against the proposal.

Mr Turnbull launched a “Hands off Centennial Parklands” campaign to keep control in the hands of the trustees while Cr Moore expressed her opposition to “the ongoing alienation of public lands in Moore Park and Centennial Park to events, car parking and exclusive use for sport” in a mayoral minute.

Sports Minister Kevin Greene said the issue needed to be discussed by Cabinet.

“I await that due process. Cabinet will discuss how best we can manage [traffic] congestion while maintaining the natural integrity of the parklands into the future.”