Proposals for major new car parks and a mountain biking course have been dropped from plans for Moore Park, under a draft document released on Friday that commits to preserving existing green space and parkland in the area.
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But the Centennial Park and Moore Park Trust's draft masterplan for Moore Park suggests more-intensive uses for the former Sydney showground area known as the Entertainment Quarter and Fox Studios, which could benefit current lease-holders including Gerry Harvey and John Singleton.
"This is all about greening the existing green space and revitalising the existing built space," said Kim Ellis, the executive director of Sydney's Botanic Gardens & Centennial Parklands.
The use of Moore Park in Sydney's inner east has been particularly contentious in the past year. As well as the removal of trees to accommodate a light rail line, the trust that governs the site was also fighting a push from the neighbouring Sydney Cricket & Sports Ground Trust to build a new stadium partly on Moore Park land.
But the two trusts have worked together on a new masterplan for the area that largely preserves the existing patterns of use.
Under the proposals, open for public comment until September 25, a new walking track will be built around Moore Park Golf Course, and a possible short-form golf course set up near the existing course.
Fairfax Media reported last year on preliminary plans for the precinct that included extensive new car parking options. But the proposal released on Friday calls for the gradual withdrawal of car parking on grass through Moore Park.
Other changes proposed in the document include the introduction of seven-days-a-week public markets in the Entertainment Quarter, more restaurants in the area, and easier walking access between Fox Studios and the Entertainment Quarter and the Sydney Cricket Ground.
Another suggested change is to create a pedestrian boulevard along Driver Avenue, which rings the SCG and Allianz Stadium.
The consortium that owns the lease for the Entertainment Quarter, for which it paid $80 million two years ago, is also working on proposals for the area that could include a hotel or serviced apartments.
Under the current planning controls for the former Showgrounds site, residential development would be excluded, and Mr Ellis said there was no proposal to change those planning controls.
"The lease is a broad lease that covers the use of a variety of different media and recreation activities," he said.
