Wentworth Park greyhound track closure and redevelopment into public space
Consensus Summary
The NSW government has agreed to an early termination of the greyhound racing lease at Wentworth Park, ending operations in October this year after a 94-year legacy dating back to 1932. Both ABC and SMH confirm the final race meeting will feature the Million Dollar Chase, marking the closure of the site. The 14-hectare site will be redeveloped into public open space, with plans for parklands, sporting fields, and community facilities. The City of Sydney Council will take over the site, with ABC noting plans for 23,000 to 27,000 jobs and 4,500 to 4,800 homes in the surrounding area, while SMH highlights additional housing projects nearby, including 2000 homes, 1400 apartments, and 8500 dwellings. The government will provide $10 million in compensation to the greyhound industry, and the siteâs transformation aims to address the need for open space in one of Sydneyâs most densely populated neighborhoods.
â Verified by 2+ sources
Key details reported by multiple sources:
- Greyhound racing at Wentworth Park will end with the final meeting in October this year
- The lease for Wentworth Park was not extended beyond September 2027
- Greyhound racing at Wentworth Park began in 1932, marking a 94-year legacy
- The 14-hectare site will be redeveloped into public open space, including parklands and sporting fields
- The City of Sydney Council will take over the site, with plans announced in late last year
- The final race meeting in October will feature the Million Dollar Chase
- The 3.9-hectare racing site will be converted into community sporting facilities and parkland
- The 13-hectare site lease will end later this year
- The redevelopment will provide open space for 23,000 to 27,000 jobs and 4,500 to 4,800 homes in surrounding areas
- The City of Sydney Council plans to include a 125,000 square metre open space, similar to Hyde Park
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- The lease for the 13-hectare site will end later this year (not specified as 'by the end of the year' like SMH)
- The government announced last year the transformation would support thousands of new homes in Blackwattle Bay and inner Sydney
- The City of Sydney Council released images of its plans in late last year, including sporting fields, walking paths, and community facilities
- The 3.9-hectare racing site will be converted into community sporting facilities and parkland
- The City of Sydney Council expects to take over the site, with plans for sporting fields, walking paths, and community facilities
- The government will provide support to help upgrade other greyhound tracks across the state
- The City of Sydney Council plans to include 23,000 to 27,000 jobs and 4,500 to 4,800 homes in the surrounding area
- The City of Sydney Council plans to include 4,500 to 4,800 homes in the surrounding area
- The 14-hectare site will be razed by the end of the year, with demolition of the 3000-seat grandstand and other buildings
- The redevelopment will include 2000 homes, 1400 apartments, and 8500 dwellings from nearby projects (Sydney Fish Market and Glebe Island)
- The southern end of Wentworth Park will feature a wetland, playground, exercise equipment, and picnic facilities
- Sporting fields, multipurpose courts, and walking tracks will be built on the central section of the site
- The heritage clock tower and stewardsâ building will remain under the councilâs plan, but all other structures will be demolished
- The industry will receive $10 million in compensation as part of the governmentâs decision to not extend the lease beyond 2027
- A dozen greyhound tracks have closed or are slated for closure at regional centres across NSW, including Dapto, which held its final meet last year
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- ABC states the 3.9-hectare racing site will be converted into community sporting facilities and parkland, while SMH does not specify this exact area breakdown
- ABC mentions the lease for the 13-hectare site will end later this year, while SMH states the site will be razed by the end of the year
- ABC states the City of Sydney Council released images of its plans in late last year, while SMH does not mention this specific detail
- ABC mentions 23,000 to 27,000 jobs and 4,500 to 4,800 homes in the surrounding area, while SMH mentions 2000 homes, 1400 apartments, and 8500 dwellings from nearby projects
Source Articles
Shock call fast-tracks plans for new inner Sydney 'backyard'
Greyhound racing at Sydney's Wentworth Park will end early with work to transform the site into public open space to begin within months.
âA backyard for Sydneyâ: The surprise deal to raze Wentworth Park this year
An expedited agreement paves the way for an urban renewal project roughly the size of Darling Harbour.