Welcome to the NSW Harness Racing Club Relocation - Community Information Page, where you will be able access the latest information about the Club's future plans for the Harold Park site at Forest Lodge

Why are we selling?

The NSW Harness Racing Industry is undergoing a major restructure in order to secure our future without relying on direct government assistance or handouts. As part of that restructure our Members voted in late 2008 to look at options for the sale of the Harold Park site and possible relocation to Menangle Park in Sydney’s South West.

This has not been an easy decision as we have been at Harold Park since 1902, but our sport and industry have been in a state of decline, severely affected by equine influenza, a lack of new investment in the sport and a gradual decline in prize money - all of which are combining to threaten the future of the industry and the thousands of jobs that depend on it. We have therefore made this decision to support our industry.

Our Industry currently provides an annual benefit to the NSW economy of approximately $680 million (including $44 million in taxes) and employs some 29,000 people, predominantly in rural and regional NSW. But these figures are falling each year and on current estimates the industry will be at unsustainable levels within 3-5 years.

Future Options

The Club has no firm plans for Harold Park yet but we believe that a concept for the site needs to be developed through consultation with our neighbours, the local community, Government, Councils and expert planning, architectural and environmental advisers.
In recent months we have undertaken some preliminary investigations and believe that the site offers opportunities for a variety of uses that we would like to review with our neighbours and the Consent Authorities, including a combination of the following:

• Residential development including student, seniors and affordable housing;

• Possible educational facilities;

• Dedication of new public open space (there is currently no public access);

• Restoration and reuse of the historic Glebe tram sheds;

• Small scale commercial/retail;

• New community or recreation facilities such as an aquatic centre, active and passive open space, community gardens, childcare centre, artist studios or farmers markets.

Given the significance of the redevelopment of such a large piece of land, the Club has made a request to the NSW Minister for Planning to declare Harold Park a Site of State Significance for the following reasons:

• 1. Heritage – Development of the site is critical to funding the restoration of the historic Glebe tram sheds.

• 2. Council boundaries – The site sits on the boundary between the City of Sydney and the Leichhardt LGA. Any development on the site will potentially impact residents within the City of Sydney and the Leichhardt LGA. A planning process through Sydney City Council would not require appropriate consideration of the views of the residents of Leichhardt Council or guarantee their share of potential S94 contributions.

• 3. Industry importance – the sale of the site is critical to the protection of 29,000 jobs in the Harness Racing Industry, especially in rural and regional NSW, and to the long term financial security of the industry.

• 4. Major economic investment - Development of the site would deliver a desperately needed major economic boost to Sydney and NSW with investment construction value of up to $760 million and a flow-on economic value of up to $618 million. Estimates of construction jobs indicate up to 5,300 direct construction jobs and 21,300 flow-on jobs. An extra 480 new jobs could be expected on site in the longer term from new small-scale support retail, community and commercial areas.

Secondly – and critical to the future of our industry and the 29,000 people whose jobs rely on it - this process could enable the project to be completed in a 2-3 year timeframe compared with a possible 5-7 year process if we go through Sydney City Council.

Next Steps

Once a planning process has been agreed for Harold Park, the Club will commence detailed site planning and consultation with our neighbours, local interest groups and representatives of both Sydney City and Leichhardt Councils. At that time we would welcome your contribution.

In the meantime we will endeavour to keep you up to date with our progress.

If you have any feedback or suggestions you would like to make regarding the future of the site please click here to forward them to us.