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The future of the Clarendon dressage arenas has become the centre of a heated standoff between the Hawkesbury District Agricultural Association (HDAA) and the broader equestrian community, drawing in Hawkesbury City Council as Crown Land Manager.
At issue is whether the long-serving arenas at the Hawkesbury Showground will continue to host local and state-level equestrian sport or be demolished.
A Home of Dressage for Decades
Since the late 1980s, the Clarendon dressage grounds within the Hawkesbury Showground have been the home of dressage in New South Wales. Over the years, significant infrastructure has been built up through partnerships between Dressage NSW (DNSW) and the HDAA, which leases the Showground from Council until 2034.
DNSW’s formal licence ran from 2015 until 30 June 2025, but the organisation announced it would not renew. Concerns over ageing infrastructure, rising costs and lease uncertainty drove their decision.
While DNSW stepped away, the state governing body, Equestrian NSW (ENSW), indicated it was willing to take on the lease and keep the facility operating for the discipline.
Demolition Threat Sparks Outcry
Instead of negotiating with ENSW, the HDAA made clear its intention to demolish the dressage arenas as soon as DNSW’s lease expired.
That decision prompted a strong community response. The “Save Clarendon” campaign quickly attracted more than 3,000 signatures, with local riders, trainers, breeders and businesses arguing that Clarendon is not just a sporting asset but a key driver in the Hawkesbury’s equine economy.
With emtions running high, the matter landed before Hawkesbury City Council.
Council’s Legal Right to Intervene
At first glance, some wondered what right Council had to intervene in a dispute between the HDAA and equestrian bodies. The answer lies in the nature of the land itself.
- The Hawkesbury Showground is Crown Land, owned by the State of NSW.
- Hawkesbury City Council is the appointed Crown Land Manager under the Crown Land Management Act 2016.
- As CLM, Council must manage the reserve in the public interest, treating it as community land under the Local Government Act 1993.
- Crucially, any change to the nature or use of the land, such as demolishing arenas, cannot occur without a clear Plan of Management being in place.
This legal framework gives Council both a duty and a right to ensure facilities like Clarendon are not lost without due process and community benefit being considered.
Extraordinary Council Meeting: 19 June 2025
In an extraordinary meeting, Council unanimously resolved to:
- Pause Demolition for 60 Days
Insist that the arenas not be demolished during the 60 days following DNSW’s lease expiry, allowing time for Equestrian NSW to prepare a lease proposal. - Request a Written Commitment from HDAA
Seek a formal guarantee from the HDAA that dressage events will continue at the Showground while negotiations proceed. - Clarify Council’s Powers
Commission a report detailing Council’s full role and responsibilities as Crown Land Manager, including advice received from state Crown Lands officials.
This move ensured the status quo was preserved and gave breathing room for negotiation, while signalling to HDAA that the Showground’s future use must align with the land’s public purpose.
The Limits of Council’s Power
It is important to note that Council cannot cancel or override HDAA’s lease—that authority rests with the NSW Minister for Lands. However, Council does retain meaningful powers:
- Compliance & enforcement: ensuring the land remains for community and recreational use.
- Blocking premature changes: preventing demolition or redevelopment inconsistent with public purpose until a Plan of Management is adopted.
- Negotiating access: pressuring leaseholders to engage constructively with potential new users like ENSW.
By exercising these rights, Council effectively positioned itself as a guardian of community interests.
HDAA Refused Mediation
Between June and September, Council sought mediation between the parties. Equestrian NSW even offered to cover the costs. But HDAA refused to engage stating they had held a legally constituted meeting and determined not to renew the lease so there was nothing to mediate.
Vireena Peacock, Vice President of Equestrian NSW, highlighted this failure in Hansard:
“ENSW put forward a proposal that was comprehensive, it met every request of HDAA and it aligned with Crown Lands expectations and Council’s Strategic Plan. We offered to take on all maintenance and operational costs, open the facility to more community groups and establish transparent equitable use. … and HDAA declined our proposal without discussion, without a meeting and without offering a reason. Not once in this entire process, despite our requests, has the HDAA been willing to meet with ENSW to explore solutions. They requested a proposal, then dismissed our proposal.”
This left Council in a bind. As the Mayor Cr Les Sheather explained while Council can vote to continue mediation, it cannot compel a party to attend.
September Council Meeting: Confirmation of Demolition
At the Ordinary Meeting of Council on 9 September 2025, the HDAA reaffirmed its intent to demolish the Clarendon dressage arenas, despite mounting public concern. HDAA spokesperson stated the Association had voted on the matter and the arenas were to be dismantled and the grounds returned to their original condition and this would be paid for the lease holder Dressage NSW.
Meanwhile, ENSW appealed directly to Council, requesting that HDAA be compelled to enter formal mediation to resolve the impasse peacefully and pragmatically.
Council determined that it didn’t have this power, and it had exhausted its avenues for intervention regarding this matter.
Equestrian NSW has appealed to the Minister for Sport to assist and HDAA must lodge a DA with Council before demolition can commence. Many believe, given Council’s processing times for DA’s this could buy sufficient time for community opposition to gain momentum for appeals to State Government.
What’s at Stake
The fate of the Clarendon dressage arenas goes well beyond equestrian sport. It speaks to:
- Heritage: A facility that has hosted generations of competitions.
- Economy: A hub for equine tourism, training and local businesses.
- Community voice: How public assets on Crown Land are safeguarded.
For now, the future of Clarendon hangs in the balance while the community continues to lobby NSW Government for a mutually beneficial outcome.
Helen Batson competing at Clarendon. Image Equestrian Life.
