‘Big Ideas’ for the future of Sydney’s Moore Park
The Centennial and Moore Park Trust has canvassed 'seven big ideas' for the future of Sydney's 149-year-old Moore Park as it looks to plan the future direction of the popular area of open space over the years to 2040.
The Trust is inviting public input on a series of proposals for Moore Park including a 'short-form' golf course, new indoor sports facilities, and a potential overhaul of planning controls at the adjacent Fox Studios and the Entertainment Quarter.
Executive Director at Sydney's Botanic Gardens and Centennial Parklands, Kim Ellis stressed the documents were only “discussion points”, designed to spark public input to a 25-year Moore Park master plan.
Ellis explained "Moore Park has never had a cohesive plan to guide its management and improvement throughout its 150 years.
"In the lead-up to its 150th anniversary, we are now inviting (the public) to be part of creating such a plan."
Ellis added "Moore Park is a place for everyone, providing numerous benefits for our community - a place to play, a place to relax, a place to be entertained and a place to gather.
"The Park exists for the use and needs of the whole community, and that is a principle we need to maintain as we proactively manage the pressures from an increasing population and changing recreational trends."
The new documents, released online by the Trust, suggest far fewer parking spots and fewer commercial opportunities on public land.
Ellis explained "the idea is that in 20 years time the landscape of private vehicle ownership will have changed.
"The light rail will be up and running and so we are not planning over the next 20 years to continue the practice of parking cars on the grass."
Ellis stressed the proposals now circulated were not a concrete plan, but the start of a consultation, commenting "i the community write back and say 'whatever you do preserve the green space in Moore Park at all costs', that is going to be a really powerful message to us but also to the (NSW) Government."
Among the proposals floated by the Trust are a new short-form version of golf, where the holes could be about 100 metres long.
The Trust makes a significant proportion of its annual income from the golf club at Moore Park, and wants to find a way to maximise that revenue.
Ellis stated "we are looking at some ideas about how we might be able to create other activities in that area which will support the recreational requirements of the 40,000 people moving into Green Square over the next few years.
"We are trying to look at ideas that might compliment (regular gol] for time-poor people living in Sydney - so you can walk over from Green Square, do some sort of entertainment thing like a short form golf and go home again in two hours or an hour."
Sydney Lord Mayor, Clover Moore, objected to the Trust's idea of a new platform or viewing area at Mount Steele, a grassy rise adjacent to the Moore Park Golf Course.
She explained "I oppose any structure on Mount Steele, all you have to do is walk up the hill to see across the city, as thousands of locals do.
"(Governor Lachlan) Macquarie's foresight in gifting Moore Park to the community now provides precious green space for some of the most densely populated areas in the country.
"To put commercial interests ahead of the community's need for places to walk, get fit and get fresh air would be a shocking betrayal."
Other suggestions in the latest documents include the idea of using the Hordern Pavilion or Royal Hall of Industries for indoor sports, greater use of synthetic grass to enable more intensive use, and new bike and walking tracks.
Tourism & Transport Forum (TTF) Chief Executive Margy Osmond said the mark of great cities around the world was often seen in their green spaces – parks, gardens and squares.
Osmond stated "the best birthday present we can give Moore Park on its 150th anniversary is a considered strategy that will protect and guide its sustainability for future generations."
Listed among the 'seven big ideas' is a discussion point to create a 2,000 space multi-storey car park next to Allianz Stadium on land controlled by the Sydney Cricket and Sports Ground Trust (SCGT).
This would appear to be payback for the SCGT having lobbied for part of Moore Park to be developed as a new Sydney stadium in the recently released NS Government plan to invest more than $1 billion in the development and refurbishment of sports stadia across metropolitan Sydney. This potential and extensively reported part of the plan was not ultimately recommended.
View the plans at www.centennialparklands.com.au.
Images: Moore Park looking north (top) and looking south, with the Allianz Stadium and Sydney Cricket Ground on the left (below).
23rd September 2015 - REPORT SAYS CONSTRUCTION OF SYDNEY MOORE PARK WALKWAY NEVER JUSTIFIED
8th September 2015 - CENTENNIAL PARK TRUSTEES WELCOME NSW GOVERNMENT ASSURANCE TO PRESERVE MOORE PARK
11th May 2015 - NSW GOVERNMENT DROPS PROPOSAL FOR $800 MILLION MOORE PARK STADIUM
29th December 2014 - CENTENNIAL PARKLANDS: SYDNEY’S INDOOR AND OUTDOOR GYM
7th July 2014 - MOORE PARK’S ENTERTAINMENT QUARTER SOLD TO HIGH PROFILE INVESTOR SYNDICATE
20th August 2013 - MOORE PARK GOLF’S ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM CERTIFIED WITH ISO 14001 CREDENTIALS
9th January 2013 - NEW SYDNEY TRAMS TO ENHANCE SCG AND ALLIANZ STADIUM EVENT EXPERIENCE
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