The ACT Greens intend to turn Thoroughbred Park, the racecourse in Lyneham, into a new residential suburb inhabited by 10,000 people.

“In the ACT, land is our most precious resource, and we need to use it for maximum community benefit, not for allowing the racing industry to profiteer,” Greens MLA Jo Clay said.

The Greens would buy back the racecourse and build a suburb with 5,000 homes, including 540 public and community homes, a Common Ground social housing development, and a retirement village. The suburb would also have a school, a health facility, a community hall, an environment community hub, parks, gardens, a microforest, shops, restaurants, retail, and commercial offices. The Greens would also re-naturalise Sullivans Creek to become a haven for wildlife and a walking and riding corridor.

“Land is the most precious resource we have in the ACT, and we need to use it carefully to maximise community benefit,” Greens leader Shane Rattenbury said. “But right now, horses have their own light rail stop while there’s a desperate need for more homes in central areas.

“The concept plans we’re releasing today lay out our vision for the current site of the racecourse, and it’s an example of our vision for the whole city: investing directly in public housing, connecting communities with great public transport, improving the health of the local environment, and stopping endless urban sprawl.”

The announcement was popular with Canberrans, judging by Reddit. “Tough decision,” one person wrote (ironically). “Provide more housing for people, or continue to prop up a sport [whose] sole purpose is to promote gambling… hmmm…” Many thought the golf course should also become a residential suburb. However, some had concerns about the site’s proximity to EPIC.

Canberra Business Chamber: Forced acquisition is bad policy

The Canberra Business Chamber, however, thought the proposed forced acquisition of Thoroughbred Park was bad policy and risky.

“While we do need more homes in Canberra, the forced acquisition of private property is not the solution,” chief executive Greg Harford said.

“Businesses employ two-thirds of all Canberrans, and successful business is critical to the future of the territory. Businesses need certainty in their operating environment, and need to know that their private property rights are secure and will be respected.

“The proposal by the Greens that the Government should take over Thoroughbred Park follows last year’s compulsory acquisition of Calvary Hospital, and puts the ACT in dangerous territory, and creates legal questions. The idea that private property is somehow a resource that can be taken at will by the Government is at odds with Australia’s status as a property-owning democracy and, if implemented, would likely have a chilling effect on investment in the Territory.”

ACT Labor: Not viable

Both ACT Labor and the Canberra Liberals also opposed the Greens’ proposal.

Chief Minister Andrew Barr thought the Greens’ proposal was ideologically driven to eliminate the horse-racing industry in the ACT, and raised legal questions about the use of land, particularly given government work to redevelop Thoroughbred Park.

“We support a model that sees housing on the site, but also retaining Thoroughbred Park. That’s entirely possible. It’s practical, its deliverable.

“That would give an outcome that I think would benefit all Canberrans and wouldn’t seek to pit one element of the community against the other like the Greens have done here.

“There would obviously be a loss of employment in that sector of the economy if the Greens’ plan were to be adopted. But I think more broadly, it’s a question of why the Greens would determine to, largely for ideological reasons, seek to eliminate the horse racing industry where there is a viable pathway that sees an outcome that’s a win for everyone.

“On a very practical level, there are some concerns with this proposal. The Lands Acquisition Act 1994 requires a declaration that specifies a public purpose for compulsory acquisitions of land. It’s not clear that the Greens proposal could meet this test.

“Even if legislation were brought forward by the Greens to acquire the land, serious questions would remain about the integrity and legality of taking a market value lease from one party and to selling it to private developers.

“There are also concerns about the impact of such a development on the future of EPIC and the capability of the venue to host with large events such as music festivals given the close proximity of this development.

“There is already work underway in Government to redevelop Thoroughbred Park. The Racing Club’s current proposal includes aged care and other affordable and social housing options including build to rent, in addition to commercial and mixed-use precincts.”

Canberra Liberals: ‘An ideological attack’

Mark Parton MLA, Shadow Minister both for Gaming and Community Clubs and for Housing and Homelessness, said: “The Greens’ racetrack plan is nothing more than an ideological attack on horseracing in the ACT.

“The Not for Profit Canberra Race Club’s redevelopment proposal will deliver over 3,000 dwellings to this precinct without it being a burden to taxpayers. Their plan also features social and affordable housing, a hotel, and aged care facilities.

“The Greens’ plan to compulsorily acquire the Race Club for the purposes of delivering similar outcomes but with taxpayers’ money is absurd.”

Thoroughbred Park is seeking to rezone underused land for commercial, commercial accommodation, and residential purposes.

“The Greens have been a part of government since 2008. Their failure to deliver more housing is entirely on them, and to demonise this large employment sector as a means of deflecting from their own failures is despicable.

“This political party is hellbent on dictating to Canberrans how they should live their lives. They see a city where very [few] people own cars, there are no wood fires, no gas BBQs or cooktops, no community clubs, and no horse racing.”

Greens: ‘Maximum community benefit’

Mr Rattenbury said: “Labor and the Liberals would be content with the racing industry making millions from some luxury properties on that site, but the Greens want to deliver maximum community benefit – thousands of homes, a school, great community facilities, and revenue the government can reinvest in this community.”

“This is a comprehensive vision for a thriving local community in a central area of Canberra,” Ms Clay said.

“All this is possible, if you vote for it.

“Only the Greens are prepared to challenge the idea that somehow the racing industry is entitled to rake in profits from private development on that site. We say the government should take back ownership and return development profits to the community.

“This is an idea to get really excited about. It’s exactly where Canberra needs more housing, particularly public and community housing, and more community facilities. 

“If we are serious about climate change, transit-oriented development and the housing crisis we must take the opportunity to redevelop this site to meet the needs of the community.”