6 February 2026
North Sydney Council has accused the NSW government of misrepresenting its engagement with the council over plans to secure the future of golf at Cammeray Golf Course, saying it was “blindsided” by a ministerial media announcement issued last night.
As reported by the Sun, the NSW government said it was in discussions with Golf NSW, North Sydney Council, Cammeray Golf Club and other stakeholders about future management arrangements for the course, with the existing lease due to expire in May 2026. The course forms part of the broader Cammeray Park reserve and has hosted golf for around 120 years.
However, in a statement issued by North Sydney Council, the council said claims of consultation were incorrect and that it had not been granted a meeting with the minister despite repeated requests.
Mayor Zoë Baker said she had written to the Minister for Lands and Property and Minister for Sport, Steve Kamper, on eight occasions since late 2022 outlining council’s position on Cammeray Park and requesting discussions.
“Not once has Council been granted that opportunity,” Baker said, contrasting this with Golf NSW, which she said had met with the minister on five occasions since 2023.
Council said it received correspondence this week advising of the minister’s position and allowing just 14 days to respond. Baker said the correspondence wrongly assumed council intended to prevent golf from continuing at the site.
“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,” Baker said.
“Neither the Open Space and Recreation Strategy nor the supporting Needs Study proposes an end to golf at Cammeray Park.”
The mayor said the correspondence misrepresented council’s adopted strategy, failed to acknowledge population and housing pressures in North Sydney, and overlooked council’s stated commitment to work with all stakeholders on the future of public land.
“With land values in North Sydney among the highest in the country, ratepayers simply cannot afford to purchase new open space,” 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.”
Baker also criticised the proposed use of ministerial powers to permanently quarantine the site for a single user group, arguing it was inconsistent with good public land management.
“Council is the most appropriate authority to care for, control and manage this land on behalf of the community,” she 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.”
She said awarding care, control and management of the site to Golf NSW would effectively privatise green space that should remain publicly accessible.
“Handing control of this land to Golf NSW removes that ability and is not in the best interests of North Sydney residents,” Baker said.
Baker’s comments reflect three distinct positions: she rejects claims that council policy seeks to end golf at Cammeray Park, argues that the site’s current use should not be permanently locked in given future community needs, and opposes the transfer of care and control to Golf NSW on the grounds that it would remove council’s ability to manage the land over time. Taken together, the position leaves council supporting the continuation of golf in the near term while resisting any guarantee of its long-term permanence.
In December 2025, council resolved to extend the existing lease over Cammeray Golf Course until 30 September 2029 to allow time for community and stakeholder engagement on the site’s long-term future.
The NSW government has said it is seeking to provide certainty for sporting uses at the site. Kamper said the course was “part of Sydney’s sporting fabric” and that the government wanted to “secure its future for generations to come”.
Golf NSW chief executive Stuart Fraser welcomed the government’s announcement, describing the course as a unique and affordable public facility catering to players ranging from beginners to elite athletes.
The government has not outlined any new site-specific financial commitments for Cammeray Golf Course, with discussions on future management arrangements ongoing.
As previously reported, the nearby Warringah Freeway Upgrade has entered a land transfer phase, with several surplus sites within the North Sydney local government area identified for potential transfer to council for care, control and management following construction, which is due to conclude in late 2026. Council is expected to consider authorising discussions with Transport for NSW on those sites at a meeting scheduled for 9 February.