Despite light rail, a master plan requirement and plans to build a new underground car park at the sporting grounds, Venues NSW and the major sporting codes have mounted a campaign to overturn legislation that would ban cars from Moore Park by 31 December 2023.

The Legislative Assembly approved the provisions last year following fantastic local campaigns including from community group Saving Moore Park, but they are yet to pass the Legislative Council.

Mark Latham has voiced his strong opposition against the move and I am worried about how the major parties will vote if he moves an amendment. Last week I arranged joint action from the local members representing the region, with letters calling for the provisions to pass signed by me, Lord Mayor Clover Moore, Labor Member for Heffron Ron Hoenig and Greens member for Newtown Jenny Leong, and a separate letter from Liberal Member for Wentworth Dave Sharma.

It is a disgrace that while surrounding residential populations are skyrocketing, we use rare land dedicated for recreation as a car park. The sporting codes will never voluntarily give up using the area for patron cars; it is up to the parliament to give this land back to the people.