New masterplan for Sydney’s Moore Park commits to preserving green space

A newly released masterplan for Sydney’s Moore Park has dropped proposals for major new car parks and a mountain biking course while committing commits to preserving existing green space and parkland in the area.

The Centennial Park and Moore Park Trust's new draft masterplan for Moore Park suggests more-intensive uses for the adjacent Entertainment Quarter and Fox Studios (the former Sydney showground on land managed by the Trust) and also suggests a new walking track to be built around the popular Moore Park Golf Course.

It also  aims to improve the park’s accessibility, create recreation opportunities and improve traffic flow and parking within the park and surrounding neighbourhoods.

The masterplan moves on from controversies of the last year when areas of Moore Park adjacent to the Sydney Cricket Ground were coveted by the Sydney Cricket & Sports Ground Trust for an all news sports stadium.

In addition, the Trust has had to deal with the felling of mature trees to accommodate a light rail line.

Introducing the masterplan, Kim Ellis, Executive Director of Sydney's Botanic Gardens & Centennial Parklands stated “this is all about greening the existing green space and revitalising the existing built space.”

Under the proposals, open for public comment until 25th September, a new walking track will be built around Moore Park Golf Course, and a possible short-form golf course set up near the existing course.

Other changes proposed in the document include the introduction of seven-days-a-week public markets in the Entertainment Quarter, more restaurants in the area, and easier walking access between Fox Studios and the Entertainment Quarter and the Sydney Cricket Ground.

Another suggested change is to create a pedestrian boulevard along Driver Avenue, which rings the SCG and Allianz Stadium.

The consortium that owns the lease for the Entertainment Quarter, for which it paid $80 million two years ago, is also working on proposals for the area that could include a hotel or serviced apartments.

Under the current planning controls for the former Showgrounds site, residential development would be excluded, and Ellis said there was no proposal to change those planning controls.

He added “the lease is a broad lease that covers the use of a variety of different media and recreation activities.”

Click here to view the draft masterplan.

Images: Moore Park from the air (top) and the popular Moore Park Golf driving range (below).

12th May 2016 - PARTNERSHIP TO DELIVER COMMUNITY, EDUCATION AND SPORTING HUB IN SYDNEY’S MOORE PARK

3rd November 2015 - ‘BIG IDEAS’ FOR THE FUTURE OF SYDNEY’S MOORE PARK

8th September 2015 - CENTENNIAL PARK TRUSTEES WELCOME NSW GOVERNMENT ASSURANCE TO PRESERVE MOORE PARK

7th July 2014 - MOORE PARK’S ENTERTAINMENT QUARTER SOLD TO HIGH PROFILE INVESTOR SYNDICATE

9th April 2014 - MOORE PARK ENTERTAINMENT QUARTER UP FOR SALE

20th August 2013 - MOORE PARK GOLF’S ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM CERTIFIED WITH ISO 14001 CREDENTIALS