Racing: Queensland racing codes to combine in big restructure

RQL chairman Bob Bentley said the Industry Infrastructure Plan was developed after meeting various clubs and stakeholders from all three codes. Photo / Thinkstock

Racing Queensland Ltd plans to revolutionise all three racing codes by forming partnerships with clubs in return for a multi-million restructure of the industry.

RQL chairman Bob Bentley recently unveiled the Industry Infrastructure Plan, which has as its centrepiece a new A$58 million ($76 million) purpose-built track for greyhounds and harness racing at Deagon, on Brisbane's northern outskirts.

Deagon will eventually close as a thoroughbred training venue with RQL assisting trainers to relocate.

Ipswich also is a big winner with A$30 million in funding to develop a multi-use, three-code racing and training facility.

The dog and harness venue at Deagon would co-exist with a back-to-back structure ensuring the tracks retained their own identities.

The precinct would be complete with stabling facilities, kennels, tie-up stalls, a new racing science centre, plus a jockey rehabilitation and industry training facility.

"I'm very positive about this plan and the greyhound and harness industries are the big winners in all this," Bentley said.

"The Deagon facility would enable both codes of racing to act independently of one another."

Bentley said funding for the multi-million dollar blueprint would come from a number of sources including A$80 million in redirected wagering tax already committed by the Queensland Government, the scrapping of the proposed Logan greyhound facility south of Brisbane and the sale of Brisbane's Albion Park Raceway.

"We looked at the whole of the industry across the state and, at the end of the day, a decision had to be made. The harness and greyhound codes have got what they wished for."

Under RQL plans, almost A$200 million will be spent improving facilities in three codes across the state, including the Gold Coast (A$49 million), Ipswich (A$30 million), Beaudesert (A$24 million), Mackay (A$18 million), Townsville (A$15 million), Cairns (A$6 million) and Rockhampton (A$10 million).

Country racing would also receive A$900,000 to help clubs reach minimum occupational, health and safety standards while A$200,000 had been allocated to improve training and trialling facilities at Cairns, Bundaberg and Capalaba greyhound tracks.

A further A$100,000 addresses infrastructure concerns at Redcliffe and Marburg harness racing facilities.

Bentley said for each of these proposed developments to take place RQL and the club involved must be in a partnership arrangement.

"We are not taking over the running of race clubs," he said.

"Clubs will operate as they have done for 100 years. All we plan to do is be in control and pay all costs associated with track maintenance and training.

"The agreements will free up clubs to place focus on their members and driving revenue through non-race day activities," he said.

Thoroughbred clubs Caloundra and Rockhampton have signed partnership arrangements, Gold Coast and Mackay have entered into a heads of agreement and negotiations are continuing with Townsville and Ipswich.

Bentley said the Industry Infrastructure Plan was developed after meeting various clubs and stakeholders from all three codes.

"If the racing industry in this state is to succeed into the future, we must collectively shift our focus from internal to external.

"The industry must unite and pursue common outcomes and not continue to operate independently, in many cases competing with each other."

- AAP