As stated by Jo Clay, Deputy Leader of the ACT Greens:
"ACT Labor Chief Minister Andrew Barr has finally admitted that a partnership with the horseracing club on the Thoroughbred Park development is risky compared to other projects.
"We are in a housing crisis and this development does not provide affordable housing options for Canberrans. Instead it is a revenue stream for a club that is trying to make up for three years of deficits.
"If it's too risky for the ACT Labor Government to enter a joint venture, then it is also too risky for them to rezone this land for this specific plan.
"Canberra Racing Club may well seek a private developer to help get this project over the line, but they still need the Minister for Planning to approve a Major Plan Amendment which will essentially allow the club to redevelop the land.
"This is prime land in the heart of Canberra's northern corridor and the Government would be foolish not to consider opportunities for affordable housing and local amenities in a redevelopment of the site.
"To date, the ACT Government has not conducted any community consultation, or considered alternate proposals, on the Canberra Racing Club's Thoroughbred Park Proposal. The Club submitted an application for a Major Plan Amendment in April 2024, but the Planning Authority has yet to release a draft Major Plan Amendment for public comment."
Background:
ACT Greens Leader Shane Rattenbury asked in Annual Report Hearings on Wednesday 12 February 2025 commenced a line of questioning around the Thoroughbred Park development proposal.
Following a supplementary question from Andrew Braddock, Greens MLA for Yerrabi, on the risk of partnering with an organisation that has returned three deficits, year on year Minister Barr responded with: "To be clear, we haven't made a decision on this but the assumption out there is we will be doing a joint venture. I need to be clear, no such decision has been taken and given the level of risk and our other priorities, it's not something that people should expect there would be a government decision and a joint venture occurring in this parliamentary term.
