Tensions Flare Over Future of Cammeray Golf Course as NSW Government Moves to Secure Site

A sharp divide has emerged between the NSW Government and North Sydney Council over the future management of Cammeray Park, following the Minns Labor Government’s announcement of its intention to permanently secure the site for golf.

The Minister for Lands, Property and Sport, Steve Kamper, announced today that the government is moving to provide “certainty” for the 120-year-old course. The move aims to ensure the 9-hole par-3 facility remains dedicated to golf beyond the expiration of the current lease in May 2026.

“Cammeray Golf Course has been part of Sydney’s sporting fabric for more than a century, and we want to secure its future for generations to come,” Minister Kamper said.

Disputed Discussions and “Short-Sighted” Policy

While the Minister’s office stated it is “in discussions with North Sydney Council,” North Sydney Mayor Zoe Baker has labeled this claim “incorrect.”

Mayor Baker revealed that she has written to the Minister at least eight times since late 2022 requesting a meeting, with no success. In contrast, she noted that Golf NSW has met with the Minister five times since 2023. Council was reportedly given just 14 days to respond to the proposal via correspondence received late yesterday.

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

The Fight for Open Space

The conflict centers on how to manage public land in one of Australia’s most densely populated and expensive areas.

• The Government’s View: Minister Kamper argued the move ensures “equitable access to golf” and supports community wellbeing and local jobs. Golf NSW CEO Stuart Fraser welcomed the move, calling the course a “unique public facility.”
• The Council’s View: Mayor Baker argued that handing control to Golf NSW would “effectively privatise green space.” She clarified that Council’s Open Space and Recreation Strategy does not propose an end to golf, but emphasizes the need for flexibility as urban pressures grow.

“With land values in North Sydney among the highest in the country, ratepayers simply cannot afford to purchase new open space,” Mayor Baker said. “It may be suitable for nine holes of par-three golf today, but that may not be the case forever—even golf is evolving.”

Timeline and Next Steps

In December 2025, North Sydney Council resolved to extend the existing lease until September 2029 to allow for community consultation. The State Government’s intervention appears to bypass this timeline, seeking a more permanent arrangement for the sporting body.

The Government highlighted its broader support for the sport, noting Destination NSW’s sponsorship of over 54 golf tournaments between 2024 and 2026. Meanwhile, Mayor Baker is urging the community to “stand with Council” to ensure the parklands remain managed in the interest of all residents, not just a single sporting group.

SOURCE: Media Releases