A WORKING group looking at creating a new regional super-racing precinct in Tamworth expects a feasibility study into the project to be finalised before the end of the year.
And the Tamworth Regional Racing Precinct (TRRP) working group has set a timetable that could see a consolidated and integrated racing precinct commence construction by the end of 2009 – if the project gets the green light.
The latest meeting of harness, greyhound, gallopers and Tamworth Regional Council (TRC) officers has signed off on a project brief that includes contracting a consultant to prepare a business plan for what could be a new multi-racing track complex around Tamworth Racecourse and Federation Park in Taminda.
The TRRP working group has also identified some of the major hurdles the project presents and the issues needing to be resolved for the project to stay on track.
The three Tamworth racing clubs – Tamworth Harness Racing Club, Tamworth Jockey Club and Tamworth Greyhound Racing Club – have also met with TRC to look at financial issues and funding opportunities.
The meetings are the latest in detailed development negotiations for a proposed precinct of about 40 hectares, taking in the current racecourse surrounds and the soccer fields of Federation Park. It is part of a new vision from TRC to revitalise the Taminda area to fit with a new planning strategy.
The group, which includes delegates from the three local racing groups as well as the state body of harness and state and national greyhounds, was formed about 10 weeks ago and already is set to contract an engineering consultant who can assess the project.
Harness NSW and Greyhounds NSW have undertaken to provide seed funding to get the feasibility study off the ground, with TRC putting in another $5000 in inhouse administration and management work to do it.
Already the group has examined how the new Taminda levee can be re-aligned to provide for the racing complex and a workable configuration, and the use of a section of the tail end of the Tamworth Jockey Club track to the project along with some of Federation Park which has provided enough land to fit a 940m trotting track and greyhound track into the design area.
It was the first hurdle to be cleared.
So far, major issues such as lighting, stabling, infrastructure, site assessments, roads, car parking, traffic, flooding, drainage, track surfaces, telecommunications, environmental standards, and proposed improvements by the TJC to fit the design future will all be canvassed as part of initial scoping for the project.
The latest group meeting also looked at timetables, with plans for expressions of interest to go out within a couple of weeks and engagement of a consultant by September.
Working group spokesman, TRC general manager Glenn Inglis, says preliminary discussions suggest the three racing codes would share resources and facilities that could give them new significant sporting results in crowds and attendance figures and cooperative events.
The group is also looking at issues to do with the planned move by the harness racing and greyhound clubs from their existing sporting homes into a precinct partnership with the gallopers and also a timetable that could accommodate a smooth transition and time line for the clubs to move from one track to another.
The timetable would be a crucial part of any consolidation of property to ensure there was minimal disruption to any scheduled race meetings.
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