Menangle Park Track to go to Councillors

August 2006

Plans for the Club's Menangle Park track development are on the verge of being presented to a full meeting of Campbelltown City Council. "The plans have been with Council for some time and so far no objections have been received," Vice President Rex Horne said.

"We are expecting everything to be put forward to Council at the end of August. This is a fantastic outcome for the development because it shows how important the benefits a state of the art harness racing facility will be to the region."

Already a deal has been struck with a civil works company to build the foundations of the 1400-metre racetrack. "We have successfully negotiated a deal at nil cost to the Club," Mr Horne announced.

"This is exciting news because the southern outskirts of Sydney is not the most efficient area for landfill transportation. However, the company we are dealing with is confident it can fulfil the Club's requirements and needs.

"It's going to be a massive project because the track will be built up seven metres from the current ground level in some places. The deal is related solely to the foundation material needed and doesn't include ancillary costs such as cabling and drainage."

After the foundation is laid, the Club will then call on the internationally renowned expertise of track designer Dan Coon will oversee the installation of the last 300mm of top dressing. Plans to renovate and modernise the existing grandstand and other public facilities are also being considered to ensure Menanngle Park becomes a harness racing showpiece.

Mr Horne said a master plan for the track precinct was also in the process of being drafted. "The master plan will be inclusive of barns for trainers and this will be presented to the Council as well as the State Government," he said.

Mr Horne said the project had received overwhelming support from both Local and State Governments. "The Club is extremely appreciative of the commitment given by Campbelltown Mayor Russell Matherson and his General Manager Paul Tosi while the State member for Camden Geoff Corrigan has been right behind the project from day one," he said.

Harness Racing NSW has also welcomed the redevelopment. "Like the Club, Harness Racing NSW sees a modern racing and training centre at Menangle track as an integral part of the harness racing future in the Sydney metropolitan area," Mr Horne said.

Menangle Park to Set the Standard for Future Australian Tracks

November 2006

AS far as racetracks go, Deputy Chairman Rex Horne is adamant Menangle Park will become a benchmark for the Australian harness racing industry. "When Menangle Park is completed it will be the best track anywhere in Australasia," Mr Horne said.

And, if a radical plan is accepted by the industry, Menangle's reputation could easily spread to a global scale. The NSWHRC is considering a proposal to use International style race gigs on the 1400-metre circuit.

"If we have the best track, then there's no reason why we shouldn't have the fastest track," Mr Horne said. "If it means the club has to spend $50,000 to supply these carts then so be it.

"We are looking at the bigger picture. There's no reason why horses won't be able to run 1:54 and 1:53 so ultimately a lot of sectors of the industry, especially the breeding side, will benefit."

Mr Horne recently provided Harness Racing NSW board members and management with a guided tour of Menangle. Their visit came after a draft master plan was released to industry participants for the first time during an open inspection and briefing about the plans for Menangle Park.

Foundation work for the new 1400-metre track has already started - at a massive saving to the Club - after a deal was formalised between the NSWHRC and a materials sourcing firm.

"This deal between the club and the company will save the industry $1.3 million in costs and alleviate the difficult duty of construction," Mr Horne said. "The company will fill the track up to within 300mm of the lodged DA levels when the Campbelltown Council approves the DA," Horne declared.

When that stage is completed, United States track designer Dan Coon will oversee the finishing touches such as preparing the racing surface. But getting an exact timeline for the completion of the project will be dependent on further development application approvals from Campbelltown City Council.

"If the Council gives us approval, then we have given the earth sourcing company 12 months from that particular date to complete the agreement," explained Chief Executive John Dumesny.

"Naturally, this aspect could be completed well before the 12 months, however, to allow for any possible downturn in the construction industry, which would make sourcing the material difficult and even more costly, the club has agreed to the period requested.

"Once again, I must stress that there are processes to go through and much will rely heavily on the Council. Originally Council indicated that the DA would be dealt with in August, however, that has now become November with a possibility of it now being on the December Council Agenda.

"There was not a single objection to the project and now we are informed that the Council Officers have signed off on the DA.

"It could have been handled by delegated authority, however, Council have classified the development as significant to the Macarther region so it must be placed before the Councillors," Dumesny concluded.