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Council blindsided by Minister's collaboration with Golf NSW

North Sydney Council

The Minister’s media release states that the NSW Government is “in discussions with North Sydney Council.” This statement is incorrect.

North Sydney Mayor Zoe Baker has written to the Minister on no fewer than eight occasions since late 2022 outlining Council’s position on Cammeray Park and requesting a meeting. Not once has Council been granted that opportunity. In contrast, Golf NSW has met with the Minister on five occasions since 2023.

Council received correspondence late yesterday advising of the Minister’s position and allowing just 14 days for Council to respond.

Mayor Baker said the correspondence wrongly assumes that Council intends to prevent golf from continuing at Cammeray Park.

“The letter suggests Council does not intend to allow golf to continue at Cammeray Park and relies on Council’s Open Space and Recreation Strategy to justify that claim. This is simply not true,” Mayor Baker said.

“Neither the Open Space and Recreation Strategy nor the supporting Needs Study proposes an end to golf at Cammeray Park.”

Mayor Baker said the correspondence misrepresents Council’s adopted strategy, fails to acknowledge the significant pressures facing North Sydney, and overlooks Council’s clear commitment to engage constructively with all stakeholders about the future of public land.

In response to an undersupply of open space and increasing housing and population pressures, Council undertook extensive research and community engagement in 2025 to inform a new Open Space and Recreation Strategy. The Strategy is designed to maintain liveability in a highly constrained urban environment.

“With land values in North Sydney among the highest in the country, ratepayers simply cannot afford to purchase new open space,” Mayor Baker said.

“This means Council must carefully manage and review all existing public land to ensure it meets the evolving needs of the whole community.”

Mayor Baker said the proposed use of Ministerial powers to permanently quarantine Cammeray Golf Course for a single user group is short-sighted and contrary to good public land management.

“Council is the most appropriate authority to care for, control and manage this land on behalf of the community.

“It may be suitable for nine holes of par-three golf today, but that may not be the case forever - even golf is evolving.”

Awarding care, control and management of the site to Golf NSW would effectively privatise green space that should always remain publicly accessible.

Mayor Baker said: “Council has consistently committed to working with all stakeholders, including the golfing community, to determine if and when change is required — through genuine consultation with the community.

“Handing control of this land to Golf NSW removes that ability and is not in the best interests of North Sydney residents.”

In December 2025, Council resolved to extend the existing lease of Cammeray Golf Course until 30 September 2029 to allow sufficient time for meaningful community and stakeholder engagement on the site’s future.

Council is calling on the Minister to reconsider his position and recognise the importance of publicly accessible open space in a rapidly growing urban area.

“I urge the Minister to reconsider this proposal in the broader context of housing growth and liveability for North Sydney,” Mayor Baker said.

“If green space matters to you, I encourage the community to make their views known and stand with Council in ensuring Cammeray Parklands remain public, accessible and managed in the interests of the whole community.”

The Minister can be reached at [email protected].

Contact details:

[email protected]

0449 627 553