The NSW government has signed off on an Australian Turf Club plan to build a seven-story 4.5 star hotel at Randwick racecourse.
A decade after it was first mooted, the development overlooking the Randwick finishing post will cost $94 million.
The Department of Planning this week approved the proposal for 190 hotel rooms, a restaurant and function rooms.
There will also be a registered club, to be known as the Jockey Club, that will have bar facilities and gaming areas for poker machines.
The hotel will be built adjacent to the main straight between the members’ Stand and the Alison Road site boundary on the northeast side of the famous racecourse.
“Following its detailed assessment, the department concludes the proposal is acceptable as it has strategic merit, would provide tourist and visitor accommodation and further promote the racecourse as a world-class racing venue,” a Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure assessment report read.
“The department has carefully considered the issues raised by council, government agencies and the community in this assessment report and is satisfied that the proposal would not result in unacceptable visual, amenity or traffic impacts.
“As such, the department considers that the project is in the public interest and is recommended for approval, subject to conditions.”
A ground-level foyer, a gym, a swimming pool, terrace spaces, and landscaping works will also be included in the project.
The approval comes as the ATC’s bid to sell off Rosehill racecourse faces parliamentary scrutiny.
The 10-person panel will be chaired by opposition planning minister Scott Farlow, with the Animal Justice Party’s Emma Hurst as deputy chair.
Submissions have been taken ahead of hearings that will start on July 22 before a final report is due on November 30, around the same time as the ATC intends to have its members’ vote on the sale.
The parliamentary inquiry will probe the unsolicited nature of a Rosehill sale that is widely speculated to be worth almost $5 billion.
Since an inquiry into the process was announced, the ATC has advanced its proposal at state government level.
However, it has been revealed that Racing NSW, which was not involved in the unsolicited proposal to the Minns government, will cover the costs of due diligence and planning for the cash-strapped race club.
A redevelopment of Rosehill is expected to create 25,000 new houses and a new train station for Sydney’s western suburbs.
Bren O’Brien
