Racing NSW chief executive Peter V’landys will head a cast of thoroughbred industry heavyweights when an inquiry into the proposed sale of Rosehill resumes in state parliament.
V’landys will appear before an upper house select committee on Friday, the second day of the public hearing.
He is scheduled to give evidence alongside Racing NSW chief operating officer Graeme Hinton from 11.45am.
Champion trainer Chris Waller and his Rosehill counterpart Richard Freedman will be the final two witnesses on the second day.
V’landys, and any role that Racing NSW played in the Australian Turf Club’s unsolicited proposal to the NSW government to sell Rosehill for housing, dominated the public hearing’s opening day proceedings.
In their evidence to the inquiry, ex-Australian Jockey Club chairman David Hall and former auditor-general Tony Harris launched scathing attacks on Racing NSW's accounting practices.
Hall of Fame trainer Gai Waterhouse called for urgent reform at the regulator.
Two days after the July 22 hearing, V’landys confirmed he had been requested to appear before the bi-partisan panel chaired by opposition planning minister Scott Farlow.
Warwick Barr
He told The Straight: “Unfortunately there were a number of items (during the hearing) that were factually wrong with no evidence to support them.
“However, as I have been requested to appear I will provide the correct facts which are backed up with verifiable evidence at the hearing.”
V’landys is also expected to give evidence during a private session of the hearing.
Chairman Peter McGauran and ATC executive member Steve McMahon will be the first Australian Turf Club representatives to front the panel when the inquiry resumes at 9am.
The club’s vice chairman Timothy Hale and director Carolyn Searcy will be next to give evidence before Racing NSW director Garry Charny’s appearance winds up the morning session.
As part of a written submission, McGauran said the ATC would have neglected its fiduciary responsibility if it did not consider the sale of Rosehill for the benefit of its members and the NSW racing industry.
“Analysis has clearly established that funds generated from a rezoned racecourse with a Metro Station would secure the financial future of the ATC into the next century,” he wrote.
A plan to redevelop Rosehill would create 25,000 new homes which McGauran said would help ease Sydney’s housing crisis.
Prominent racing industry figures Jason Abrahams and Julia Ritchie, representing the Save Rosehill Group, will also give evidence on Friday.
A Save Rosehill Group submission claims the redevelopment of western Sydney racetrack “is an unnecessary high-risk proposition for the ATC”.
It says that rather than generate a windfall for the ATC, a sale would weaken the club’s financial position because it would be offloading its premier asset.
Bren O’Brien
Dr Rosemary Elliot and Dr Andrea Harvey, members of Sentient, an independent Australian veterinary association for animal welfare advocacy, will also attend the inquiry.
Dr Paul McGreevy, a University of Sydney professor of animal behaviour and welfare, will also give evidence.
Racing columnist and tipster Richard Callander will appear in his role as chief executive of the NSW Trainers Association.
