Community rescue urged for Avondale's losing track

The owner of the Avondale racecourse is struggling to repay a $2.75 million loan. Photo / Paul Estcourt

The possibility of Avondale losing its green heart - the century-old racecourse - has prompted civic leaders to urge a community rescue to stop further chunks of rich grass turf being carved off for commercial and housing developments.

The Avondale Jockey Club, which owns the racecourse, will hold its meetings at other tracks for the next 12 months in the hope of gaining a firm financial footing without race day operating losses.

Club president Ron Murphy said the club owed $2.75 million to a private financier and was struggling to pay an annual interest payment of $261,500.

The club resisted suggestions to sell Avondale, which draws income as a sports and Sunday market venue, and hoped to prove to the board that it should race at Avondale again.

The interest rate revelation brought an angry response yesterday from Avondale Community Board chairman Duncan MacDonald.

"That's way over the top and it's no wonder the club can't keep its head above water.

"It's a blow to Avondale in a lot of ways after years of false rumours that the course was being sold off for a Warehouse or a Westfield."

Mr MacDonald said the Auckland City Council, which leases the sports fields inside the course, should replace the Racing Board as lender.

"The council should lend at a reasonable interest rate to let the jockey club carry on, and protect the land for the city."

Avondale ward city councillor Noelene Raffills said the fate of the course had been "sitting in the wings" for some time.

"It's a marvellous area and we should sort out a new arrangement with it. I look forward to the adventure of what to do - council would have open days and consultation to get good ideas from people but I'd be actively keen to see open space there."

The city council's lease of the 15 sports fields expires next year and it is interested in renewing it.

The club said it made $753,000 a year from Sunday market stalls and council rent for football and cricket. It paid $58,228 a year in council rates on 3.66ha based on a valuation of $15.8 million.

City planning general manager John Duthie said options had come up for use of the course.

"But the club has never formally asked us to rezone it from being a racecourse apart from stripping out some land for a housing development along Wingate St and a petrol station along the front."

Racehorse trainer Davina Waddell said she was pleased the club was not shutting down the training side of operations.

About 80 racehorses a month were trained there and apart from the other professional teams, including that of Natalie Tanner, the track served small teams of 20 owner-trainers.