Premier Minns defends $5 billion Rosehill site proposal

Premier Chris Minns has addressed concerns about the government's proposal to buy the Rosehill Racecourse for $5 billion. He confirmed that this move is not a significant change from the original plan. The plan involves the Rosehill site being developed into a mini-city with around 25,000 homes and a new metro station. This idea was proposed by the Australian Turf Club (ATC) and Minns last year. The ATC will hold a vote next month regarding the sale of the racecourse. In December 2023, Minns stated that the land sale would not cost taxpayers anything, as the ATC would handle the sale to private developers. He had claimed, "Zero. Nothing," when discussing taxpayer costs at that time. Despite the ATC's revised plan asking the government to buy the land at a high price, Minns argued this was not a major shift. He suggested the government would eventually sell the land to recover its costs, meaning it wouldn’t negatively affect the budget. Some ATC members have questioned the $5 billion valuation. Still, Minns ruled out compulsory acquisition of the racecourse. He stated that would violate the rights of ATC members and emphasized that the final decision rests with them. Minns insisted that taking a calculated risk is essential for creating more housing in Sydney. He highlighted the need for flexible zoning and planning to make significant housing developments happen in the city.