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State Significant Development

Determination

Night Racing at Royal Randwick Racecourse

Randwick City

Current Status: Determination

Interact with the stages for their names

  1. SEARs
  2. Prepare EIS
  3. Exhibition
  4. Collate Submissions
  5. Response to Submissions
  6. Assessment
  7. Recommendation
  8. Determination

Proposal for up to 16 night racing events per annum at Royal Randwick Racecourse, facilitated by the installation of trackside lighting infrastructure, and the upgrade of Spectator Precinct lighting.

Attachments & Resources

Notice of Exhibition (1)

EIS (19)

Response to Submissions (14)

Agency Advice (6)

Additional Information (10)

Determination (4)

Approved Documents

There are no post approval documents available

Note: Only documents approved by the Department after November 2019 will be published above. Any documents approved before this time can be viewed on the Applicant's website.

Complaints

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Enforcements

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Inspections

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Note: Only enforcements and inspections undertaken by the Department from March 2020 will be shown above.

Submissions

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Showing 21 - 40 of 59 submissions
Cheryl Forrest-Smith
Object
Mona Vale , New South Wales
Message
Thank you for the opportunity to lodge my submission regarding the Randwick Racecourse proposal to run 16-night racing events per year. I wish to strongly object, and submit just two, of so many, major concerns:
1. Horse welfare issues and increased injuries:
a. Horses are highly sensitive to light, with dark to bright lights causing confusion, anxiety and fear.
b Changes from dark to bright light during transportation and racing carry serious welfare risks, including panic and injury.
c. Racehorses already suffer a range of injuries - internal & external. Additional hours and longer days obviously increases the likelihood of even more.

2. Industry participants have identified night racing as a threat to human welfare generally, and safety in particular as a consequence.
a. According to participants, trainers and their staff already work long hours and adding nights makes it even more difficult and dangerous. As experienced in other locations, it is increasingly unsustainable - See my item 2b:
b. The addition of night races in Queensland has caused an increase in staff turnover, which can negatively affect the horses as they are being left with less experienced handlers. This is a huge welfare issue and can result in more abuse and cruelty toward the horses.
Source: https://www.punters.com.au/news/trainers-speak-out-over-welfare-concerns_195447/
Maria Bradley
Object
COOGEE , New South Wales
Message
I Strongly OJECT to night racing at Randwick

The traffic, light, crowd noise will be negative
This is not in the public interest

This is extreme animal cruelty and promoting gambling

How has this been classified State Significant? It is an abuse of Planning system

The proposal should be rejected
Name Withheld
Object
KENSINGTON , New South Wales
Message
I live on Doncaster Avenue Kensington. When I moved to the area I accepted that I would have to endure the traffic and noise associated with racing.
I didn’t realise it would be as bad as it is though. Fist fights and abusive language out the front, young women crying in the gutter, vomiting in the street, traffic backed up, gridlock at the ascot street roundabout due to Taxis queuing across the intersection. I have even had young woman enter my front yard and urinate behind my hedge.
I have young children who will be adversely affected by the additional noise we will endure late at night as a result of night racing. I implore you to consider the residents of Kensington who already put up with more than enough disruption to our daily lives due to racing.
I would also like to point out that horse racing is a cruel industry that should not be condoned.
Name Withheld
Object
RANDWICK , New South Wales
Message
I am the owner of Unit XX, Quinella Gardens, 274-300 Anzac Parade, Kensington. The block is a fence away from Randwick Racecourse. This is a residential area - there are homes and units on all sides of the Racecourse including student accommodation at UNSW. I am very concerned by the Australian Turf Club's proposals for night racing at Randwick - I think this activity will have a detrimental impact on the quality of life and therefore the value of my property. Given the commercial nature of the proposed activity, with the intention to attract large audiences, the residents of the area will be greatly impacted by increased vehicle and people movement and noise as they arrive and disperse. The prospect of bright trackside lighting is very disturbing as we've already had the awful experience of bright night-time lighting during the light rail building debacle. At least there was an end point to that. The proposal means that for 2 weekends a month in the summer months there will be considerable discomfort for those living in the area. The likely, relentless, noise from generators, loudspeakers and staged events will be impactful. We have Body Corporate By-laws in place, and enforced, to ensure neighbours do not disturb neighbours. How can our By-laws be effective if the Australian Turf Club has no consideration for its neighbours? What is to be done to mitigate noise drift? I have been very concerned to find that just on the other side of our fence and immediately below a number of balconies, a barbeque/refreshment area is being established. In the summer months residents want to be able to enjoy their balconies and have windows open. What is to be done about smoke/smell/noise drift from this area into our property? Again, we have By-laws that are likely to be negated by the operation of this refreshment area and given its informal nature, the noise, smell and rubbish likely to be thrown into our garden will impact adversely on our property and the comfort of residents. This Australian Turf Club proposal will result in a very uncomfortable outcome for residents and this is A RESIDENTIAL AREA. I do not wish my property to be devalued in this way nor do I want residents to have a compromised life style. Please take us into consideration. This Australian Turf Club proposal should not be considered until there is a full assessment and understanding of the impact on residents in the area.
Keep Sydney Beautiful
Object
COOGEE , New South Wales
Message
This project in not in the public interest and should be rejected
The accompanying documents highlight how little is known about impacts on neighbouring suburbs from noise, light or traffic

The lighting review is concerning

While we believe neighbours may find acceptable an additional 10 lux in habitable rooms till 10pm at night, a high luminance along with the intensity, will not be tolerated. The brightness of LED luminaires in the field of view for nearby residents requires consideration

The Noise Review is Concerning
5 Assessment
A noise assessment and reporting will be undertaken in accordance with the methodology presented in Section 2 above.
Where required, should the noise emission from the proposed night racing exceed the relevant noise emission criteria, GHD will work in conjunction with the ATC to determine suitable mitigation options to reduce noise levels to acceptable levels.

These two factors alone indicate the projects impacts will be great or best case unknown

Its is therefore hard to justify giving the project a State Significant assessment and we would like to see this go to an NSW Upper House Inquiry for future scrutiny and transparency
Name Withheld
Object
COOGEE , New South Wales
Message
Application: Night Racing at Royal Randwick Racecourse
Submission (SUB-22792749)

Dear Major Projects

I expressly state my objection to the introduction of night racing at Royal Randwick Racecourse. I am a clinical psychologist in private practice with over 30 years of clinical experience. I write on behalf of my patients and their families with gambling addiction concerns.

I believe the introduction of night racing will bring an increase in problematic gambling. Current research outlines three primary predictors for this: Greater opportunity for placing bets, increased frequency of race meetings, and an increase in meeting accessibility to the wider community. Additional predictors include a wide range of bar and dining facilities, comfortable seating, venues easily accessed by car and public transport, and venues that provide a safe and secure social environment, with a lively atmosphere and hospitable betting areas. Randwick Racecourse boasts all of these features and more. The facility and specifically these events are marks of an inherently manipulative industry that will attract between 320,000 - 520,000 Australians experiencing moderate to significant problems from their gambling every year.

Studies have shown that people are more likely to gamble at night. The addition of night races at Randwick leaves the community vulnerable to the insidious effects of gambling addiction. Mental health implications are well documented and include depression, anxiety and stress-related disorders such as sleep disturbances and disordered eating. Those who partake in gambling are statistically high risk for alcohol and substance abuse, and are three times more likely to attempt suicide. These numbers increase further where there are pre-existing mental health concerns.

Sadly, these risks extend to the families of those who gamble as well. Studies have shown burnout to be common within the families of gamblers, where the focus is so consistently placed on the person gambling, and ongoing financial problems, that the needs of other family members are neglected. Domestic violence is of higher concern when one or both partners partake in gambling. Children are particularly vulnerable, and will often link a parent’s gambling to their behavior, believing they are responsible. Children of adults with gambling problems will often have lower grades than their peers. Shockingly, they are two times more likely to attempt suicide.

With the night races proposed to take place between 6 and 10pm on weeknights, it is my belief that the community will suffer. These are hours best suited to spend at home, fostering the family environment. These are the hours when we eat together, when parents read their children stories and put them to bed, and when partners enjoy the benefit of one on one time. Throughout my years in clinical practice, I have never seen any good come of a parent or spouse spending these hours outside the home in an environment such the races.

I object to the proposed night racing at Royal Randwick Racecourse.

Sincerely,
Name Withheld
Object
MAROUBRA , New South Wales
Message
The noise and traffic for the neighbours and local Community plus the bright lights is not acceptable. They have enough to contend with due to Light Rail holding yards so close to their homes.

I object to the Horse Cruelty that goes hand in hand within this industry and feel that the horse don't need to be pressured to perform at even more venues.

Horseracing feeds the gambling Industry and means more possibilities for people to "lose their pants" !

This has NO advantage to our State coffers or the public at large
Ellie Robertson
Object
Holsworthy , New South Wales
Message
I strongly object to any form of night racing.
Any form of horseracing is cruel and unethical, and in particular, night racing for the following reasons for horses and humans.
1. Horse welfare issues and increased injuries:
a. Horses are very sensitive to light and can be frightened by bright lights. Changes from dark to bright light can cause issues during transporting and racing.
b. Racehorses are already at risk of injuries, and additional hours and longer days may only increase the risk.
2. Industry participants have identified night racing to have threats to human welfare.
a. According to participants, trainers and their staff already work long hours and adding nights makes it more difficult.
b. The addition of night races in Queensland has caused an increase in staff turnover, which can negatively affect the horses as they are being left with less experienced handlers. This is a huge welfare issue and can result in more abuse and cruelty toward the horses.
Leanne Westbrook
Object
Kensington , New South Wales
Message
We strongly oppose the night racing at Randwick. The noise from the diesel generators to run the trackside lighting will be a constant annoying disruption for local residents. Car parking for local residents will also be an issue. We will have to park further from our homes & walk in the darkness which is a real safety concern. After the day time races patrons stagger past our homes drunk, abusive & vomiting in our gardens. This behavior is bad enough during daylight hours, we should not have to tolerate it at night. The congregation of intoxicated patrons in the surrounding streets at the conclusion of the event is a safety issue with them staggering onto the roads in front vechiles trying to attract taxi's & ubers. This will be exaggerated in the darkness & an innocent motorist may not be able to avoid a collision.
Diana Argirellis
Object
KENSINGTON , New South Wales
Message
My family and I are utterly disappointed to learn about "possible" night racing at Royal Randwick Racecourse. As residents we already endure more than our fair share on weekends and definitely do not want to suffer during the week.
We experience every race day the:
* toxic state of Patrons which includes drunk brawls with our front gate constantly being damaged.
* Patrons who trespass on to our property to help themselves to our side tap to either wash themselves down after vomiting in our garden bed or just because they are thirsty!
* Numerous empty beer bottles littered into our garden bed
* The selfish act of taking resident's 1 hour car spot because they produce a disable permit ( mind you not disable at all!) or just take the risk
* The noise pollution which will cause a disruption to my family and more importantly young kids who need their sleep during the week to be able to function for school
* Lastly, the possible damage to our cars from drunk Patron's who think it is "NORMAL" to key cars on Doncaster Ave after having a BIG DAY! (Police involved)

As you can read I am totally against any additional race days especially during the week. Think of the resident's for a change and their lives. You introduce say "4" nights of race night during the year for 2021 and set a precedent with it only increasing over time. NO, this needs to STOP. Who is policing the Patron's and all their stupidity when they leave the premise ? The Resident's need to be heard and their safety and well being needs to be put first.
Thank-you for taking the time to read my submission. Diana
Name Withheld
Object
COOGEE , New South Wales
Message
There has not been adequate and thorough public consultation to properly gauge the community opinion on this matter. Night time racing will on balance have a deleterious impact on individuals, families, and the community in general.
I therefore strongly object to this proposal.
Name Withheld
Object
KENSINGTON , New South Wales
Message
Light Rail Stabling yard creates noise levels that impact residential living already.
Property is vandalised during daytime races and at night there is more risk.
Traffic levels are exceedingly high already, this activity will exacerbate this
Damages caused by Light Rail construction and noise mitigation have not been repaired or addressed
New student accommodation being build @ 18 Doncaster Avenue will cause more traffic and noise which night racing will exacerbate
On street parking is minimal already, students will take more of the spaces
The cycle lane being built on our side of Doncaster Avenue will cause further disruption and decrease parking spaces for residents further.
Leave us alone
Name Withheld
Object
KENSINGTON , New South Wales
Message
Object - I think the residents of Kensington has endured enough disruption to our lives.
1. Traffic congestion - due to the changes imposed by the light rail project, Doncaster Ave, Todman Ave and Alison Road in particular has been a traffic nightmare on a daily basis
2. Anticipated noisy and disruptive pedestrian traffic in residential area- we already experience this during race days and other racecourse events- hosting additional evening events interrupts residential well being, compromises the safety of our young families.
I have personally witnessed and reported on bad behaviour of drunken patrons scratching our cars, using our gardens as a toilet or vomit area, kicking in our fragile fencing, pulling out our plants, tipping our bins for fun and even smashing our pot plants from our gardens.
Parking- with the light rail project, we have already had to sacrifice many parking spots. To add insult to injury, the many construction sites in Kensington has led to more workers taking our parking spots. When these buildings are complete, parking will become even scarce as many of these buildings have been designed with minimal parking with the assumption that all residents will take the light rail. Evening racing will make it even that more difficult to secure a parking spot
Light rail- residents are suffering from the 24 hour lighting and operational noise from the light rail stabling yard. Residents have not received any form of mitigation.
Evening racing will create more noise, more stadium lights, more anxiety for residents! Every evening as we are finally able to ‘retire’ from the day, we then have to battle with light tail stabling yard activity or Syd water digging or additional
Approval for work permits for construction to continue with concrete pours.
Name Withheld
Object
KENSINGTON , New South Wales
Message
Kensington is a residential area with many young famalies. Late night events are not in character with this slow and peaceful environment.
The noise and disturbance of intoxicated patroxnsexperienced after daytime races, is likely to increase after dark.
The lack of parking in the area is already an issue, with bike lanes, speed humps and landscaping reducing the number of spots available for locals.
Overall, this proposal will boost revenue for the racecourse at the expense of the residents.
Name Withheld
Comment
KENSINGTON , New South Wales
Message
For night racing events to be successful, free access to these events should be given to neigbouring landowner/ occupier. This will guarantee that attendance will be good and everyone will enjoy these events.
Randwick City Council
Comment
RANDWICK , New South Wales
Message
Please see attached.

Please note this is a draft submission and may be subject to changes following the Council meeting on Tuesday 29 June 2021. Council will provide a final submission following this meeting.
Attachments
ROADS AND MARITIME SERVICES DIVISION
Comment
PARRAMATTA , New South Wales
Message
Hi All,

Please find attached Transport for NSW response.

Kind regards,

Brendan Pegg
Attachments
TRANSPORT FOR NSW
Comment
Chippendale , New South Wales
Message
The Greater Sydney Division of Transport for NSW (TfNSW) will provide a response for the above. Therefore, no submission will be provided for the DPIE’s request via [email protected] in this instance.
Doncaster Avenue Residents
Object
KENSINGTON , New South Wales
Message
The racecourse events already provide significant disruption to the local community and night racing will cause an unacceptable level of significant further disruption.

We strongly object to night racing and, in particular, in the extreme manner proposed. This would have an enormous affect on local living communities and family living standards in the local area.

For example:
- After each current race-day, there is already rubbish littered throughout the neighbourhood. We constantly have beer bottles littered on our streets and in our front gardens (among other rubbish and pollution). We currently have to clean up this mess. The racecourse needs to arrange cleaners to remedy this as it's not local individuals’ responsibility to clean up their neighbourhood where the racecourse is responsible and makes profit from the events. The racecourse currently doesn’t remedy or mitigate this significant issue and night racing will only exacerbate this problem. The racecourse should first be required to show a track record or remedying these issues before it should be permitted to contemplate extending race events late into the evening.
- Noise on the streets after race-days and into the night is already present. Night racing will significantly extend the hours that this occurs. The Council needs to be very careful not to further disrupt locals who are already bearing the brunt of this. This is a family area. Recently there was a physical fight out the front of our house, so this is not only a noise pollution issue but a safety issue. We all know too well that there will be drunken patrons leaving the races and at such late times this cannot be accepted by locals. Currently the racecourse allows drunken patrons to leave into the local neighbourhood and washes its hands completely of any responsibility of them after they leave their premises. This should not be permitted by Council.
- Notwithstanding the above, if night racing is approved, entry and exit via the Doncaster gates MUST be prohibited. The main entry on Alison road needs to be used to transport all racegoers immediately onto public transport and to prevent (at least to some extent) racegoers walking directly into the local residential area. This must be prohibited.

Kind regards
Doncaster Avenue Residents
Coogee Bay Precinct
Object
COOGEE , New South Wales
Message
As per Resolution 25/21 of the Coogee Bay Precinct, Randwick City Council, I am making the following comments in opposition to the proposed provision of Night Time Racing.

The members of the precinct are unanimous in opposition to this proposal because of the deleterious impact of racegoers descending on Coogee. This will occur before and more particularly after these night time events conclude at 10 pm.

The consultation proposal is particularly flawed due to its lack of acknowledging the impact of racegoers on the Coogee Bay Area residential area. The accompanying assessment of public transport support is outdated and hence faulty.

In relation to Public Transport, the proposal states:
'The site is approximately 500 metres from the closest bus stops along Anzac Parade and Alison Road. Anzac Parade has a high frequency of services, which service surrounding suburbs and the University of NSW, as well as connecting to the Sydney CBD. It should be noted that at approximately 10pm (when the night racing is proposed to finish), bus service frequency is approximately every 10 - 20 minutes for services between Royal Randwick Racecourse and Central Station.'

This reference to the importance of buses falsely assumes patrons will not venture to Coogee for further drinking etc. This false supposition, will leave the good citizens of Coogee with the joyless experience of drunken and disorderly invaders for the ensuing late night and early morning. Coogee is, as the project context states at 2.2, only 3 kilometres away. A downhill run for which the noise management plan is hauntingly silent on pre and post event noise at Coogee.

The reliance on 'bus service frequency' is absolutely false given the intended changes to buses. The 'supporting' bus services are planned to be reduced drastically or removed totally as follows:
Supporting bus routes to be or already withdrawn 338, 373, 376, 377, 391, 393, 394, 395, 399, L94, M10, M50;
and to be reduced: 339, 374, 392, 397, 370.

The report does not give any effort to managing this 'project context', while acknowledging:
* Australias national terrorism threat level is Probable
* There are no accompanying management plans for:
- crowd,
- emergency,
- security,
- terrorist attack,
- drugs and alcohol,
- crime and anti-social behaviour.

In short, this proposal as it stands is a recipe for disaster on a national scale.
Added to this is the re-emergence of Covid cases. Horse racing crowds welling in the Coogee Bay Area would only exacerbate associated health risks.

These are a host of reasonable proposal related reasons to scrap the plans for night time racing. Added to these are the underlying issues of exacerbating gambling related harm by the introduction of any night time racing.

Pagination

Project Details

Application Number
SSD-8706
Assessment Type
State Significant Development
Development Type
Sports & Recreation Activities
Local Government Areas
Randwick City
Decision
Approved
Determination Date
Decider
Executive Director

Contact Planner

Name
Rodger Roppolo