Rosehill development plan a 'hijack': Gai Waterhouse

Master trainer Gai Waterhouse has hit out at a NSW government-backed plan to develop Sydney's historic Rosehill racecourse for housing as a money-driven "hijack" by the track's owner. A state parliamentary inquiry is examining the proposal after the government in December signed a memorandum of understanding with the racecourse owner the Australian Turf Club for plans to build more than 25,000 homes on the site. The plan for the 140-year-old track is a once-in-a-generation chance to boost much-needed housing supply in the area, near Parramatta in the city's west, the government says. The turf club wants to use the proceeds from the sale - potentially worth up to $5 billion - to invest in other Sydney racing, training and stabling venues. But some thoroughbred industry players say the plan lacks transparency and want assurances club members will have full voting rights on a sale when they consider the plan later in the year. Appearing at the inquiry on Monday, Ms Waterhouse said she was "incensed at the attempt to sell Rosehill and hijack - meaning steal - the proceeds". "I am infuriated by the mendacity of the ATC board and associates," she said while excluding board members Tim Hale and Caroline Searcy from her criticism. "We would not be here today to discuss selling the cricket ground, the SCG, or Bondi Beach, but yet we're here to discuss the sale of Rosehill," Ms Waterhouse said, sitting alongside fellow trainer John O'Shea. She pointed to the sale of Harold Park, the long-time home of harness racing in Sydney, to developers, which led to the sport's relocation from inner city Glebe to Menangle, on the city's southwest fringe. Harold Park was sold on the basis of securing the future of harness racing but "zero crowds" attended the sport's new base, she said. "So tragic," Ms Waterhouse said, adding that the "elephant in the room" was how to fund racing into the future. "The ATC has an unsustainable financial model," she said. A better plan would be to keep the racecourse, develop housing on surrounding ATC land and open up the track's green space to the public, Ms Waterhouse said. She pointed to the example of Hong Kong's Sha Tin racetrack, which she said had "amazing sporting facilities" in the centre of the racecourse. "Why can't we have that at Rosehill? Why can't the public of Parramatta be able to enjoy that?" Ms Waterhouse asked. The hall-of-fame trainer holds the record at Rosehill's most famous race, the Golden Slipper, with eight winners. Speaking to reporters, Ms Waterhouse predicted ATC members would unanimously reject the sale. "It's a core asset and it's owned by the members and there's been no vote on it," she said. Premier Chris Minns said Ms Waterhouse was entitled to her view when asked about her opposition to the plan. "I'm not confident of getting Gai over the line," he said. "I'd just make this point that this is a great opportunity for literally billions of dollars to go into racing in NSW and completely remake the industry." David Borger, the executive director of Business Western Sydney, told the inquiry the plan, which arose from an unsolicited ATC pitch, would revitalise the area. "The significant increase in housing supply will help address Sydney's housing crisis and contribute to the overall economic growth of western Sydney," he said. But opposition planning spokesman Scott Farlow, the inquiry's chair, said the proposal did not appear genuine as there was no evidence it was backed by ATC members. "What we've seen today from the government is the cart before the horse when it comes to Rosehill," he told reporters.