Former chairmen of the Australian Turf Club and Australian Jockey Club, Matthew McGrath and Ron Finemore will take centre stage on the final day of public hearings of the Rosehill Select Committee at NSW parliament.
An additional day of hearings, the fourth, was scheduled by the Committee, which has a deadline to report on its findings by December 6, having already heard from most, if not all, of the biggest names in the NSW racing industry.
Trainers Gai Waterhouse and Chris Waller, Racing NSW CEO Peter V’landys and his COO Graeme Hinton, Australian Turf Club chairman Peter McGauran, and key executive Steve McMahon, widely seen as the architect of the idea to sell Rosehill racecourse, have all appeared before the hearing.
McGrath, chairman of the ATC from 2018 until 2022, is set to appear alongside Finemore, the AJC chairman from 2009 until 2011 at 10am on Monday.
In an earlier written submission to the inquiry, McGrath said he opposed the sale of Rosehill.
“There are several paths that lead to opposing the sale,” he said.
“Mine is expressed on the basis of why is it necessary when other possibilities still provide significant monies to the Australian Turf Club, provides housing options for the state government, whilst protecting and retaining the historic and valuable western Sydney space that is Rosehill Gardens.”
McGrath said the ATC was well set up to realise the land value for housing and obtain strong financial gains.
The following are three key items in my involvement in setting up the club for future land disposal,” he said.
“In 2016 as Chair of Property, the ATC did a JV with Mirvac on the sale of King St car park at Canterbury. In 2017 as Chair Of Property, the ATC amalgamated with Rosehill Bowling Club. In 2021, as Chairman of the ATC and Chair of Property, the ATC took the core land of the Circus site on James Ruse Drive to non-core via a 75% member vote.
Warwick Barr
“In 2021 and 2022, the ATC did a complete and thorough analysis and business case on each of these three properties and discussed with Ministers and local councils, on the proposal of selling these sites for housing.”
McGrath said that the analysis revealed that some 10,000 dwellings could be created and that the ATC would receive approximately $250 million.
“These three solid and simple opportunities present to the State Govt the much-needed land for housing and require a sign-off to get things moving,” he said.
Finemore, a trucking magnate and a breeder and owner, is a respected figure within the Australian thoroughbred industry.
Monday’s hearing will kick off at 9am with Kiersten Fishburn, Secretary, Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure appearing before Terry O’Brien, the Director of the Office Of Racing, at 9:30am.
James Cullen, Premier Chris Minns’ Chief Of Staff, will be the final witness at 10:45am.
