Racing Queensland strikes deal to keep Ipswich greyhounds racing
Racing Queensland (RQ) has announced they have come to a resolution with the Ipswich Show Society (ISS) and the Ipswich Greyhound Racing Club (IGRC) to continue greyhound racing until The Q is completed.
Greyhound racing will continue to take place at the Ipswich Showgrounds until 2024 as the IGRC and the (ISS) have agreed to extend their lease for a year.
This agreement ensures that greyhound racing will remain at the venue until The Q, which is Queensland's new home of greyhound racing, in Purga is completed.
The announcement of this agreement brings certainty to all stakeholders and participants in the industry.
Once the lease comes to an end, both IGRC and ISS will work together to facilitate a transition from the site with plans to repurpose it for community uses.
Racing Queensland (RQ) has congratulated both parties involved in reaching this agreement, recognising the significance of providing a smooth transition for the industry.
The ISS first foreshadowed the issue over the lease extension in October 2023, and doubled down on those efforts a few weeks later asking RQ for an extraordinary $12 million ‘make good' payment at the end of any propsed 12-month extension.
RQ refused the extra demands put forward by the ISS, and instead encouraged the ISS to re-engage with the IGRC.
While RQ was not forthcoming with the details or extra payments required to secure the lease extension, RQ said that it congratulates “both parties on the agreement, which provides greater certainty to industry stakeholders and participants”.
For more than seven decades, since 1946, greyhound racing has thrived at the Ipswich Showgrounds, contributing to its history within the city.
The Ipswich Greyhound Racing Club holds a position in Australia as one of the successful greyhound racing clubs that has produced numerous champions over many years.
RQ reports that exciting progress has been made regarding The Q project as construction firm FKG has been appointed to handle the primary construction works at Purga.
This marks a milestone for the project, with phases expected to commence and set new standards in modern track design upon completion next year.
FKG will complete the main body of work at Purga, following BMD Group's completion of the bulk earthworks earlier this year.
The completion date for The Q is expected to be in 2024.