Tasracing drops new north-west greyhound & harness facility plans
The much anticipated north-west Tasmanian track plans to replace the Devonport greyhound track that shut down in March 2022 are to be cancelled, according to a Tasracing media release today (Thursday, May 9, 2024).
The future of greyhound racing in Tasmania's north-west had been in jeopardy since early 2020, when the Devonport Show Society first announced plans to redevelop the showground.
Despite the looming closure of Devonport greyhounds, it wasn't until March 2023 that Tasracing announced it had engaged engineers to design the new greyhound track and harness racing track.
The new track was to be home to harness and greyhound racing in north-west Tasmania and was to be built on land adjacent to Devonport Airport.
Alarm bells began ringing in October 2023, when Tasracing acknowledged a significant cost blowout in the proposed track build.
Tasracing was forced to write to the Racing Minister at the time, Felix Ellis, to announce that the amended cost of the project had blown out from $18 million to $38.6 million.
It was noted at the time that Tasracing would not be unable to fully fund the project, given the amended cost estimate.
As recently as the month prior, in August 2023, Tasracing had been trumpeting the benefits of the new north-west track for the industry.
The announcements were prior to the outcome of the Ashton inquiry in South Australia, which stamped a big question mark over the future of greyhound racing in that state, and enamoured anti-racing activists in Tasmania.
The situation became considerably worse for greyhound racing in the ‘Apple Isle” when Tasmanian 2024 election results delivered the balance of power to five Greens party members, three Jacquie Lambie Network party members, and three independents.
The Liberal Party elected to form government with 14 seats over the Labor Party, which holds just 10 seats, delivering considerable leverage to the minor parties in the decision making process.
The incoming Tasmanian Racing Minister had remained tight-lipped about the prospect of funding the north-west track project since taking up the role.
Tasracing CEO Andrew Jenkins today announced the north-west track project was to be abandoned, saying that, “significant project cost increases had made the current track development proposed for land adjacent to Devonport Airport unaffordable and it would no longer proceed.
“The total anticipated cost of the proposed project increased from the initial assessment of $18 million ($10 million capital funding contribution from Tasracing and $8 million from the Tasmanian Government) to an estimated $38.6 million in September 2023, including the cost of purchasing the 27-hectare construction location.
“It is likely that the estimate will have increased further, which is why Tasracing advised the Tasmanian Government that it was not financially prudent to proceed,” Jenkins said.
Mr Jenkins further added that proceeding with the project would jeopardise the sustainability of Tasracing's operations.
Tasracing said it would now proceed to create a new plan for a greyhound and harness track for the region.
Tasmanian Racing Minister Jane Howlett, said the Tasmanian Government had asked Tasracing to provide advice on a solution that was focused on investment in facilities to suit the daily requirements of North-West harness and greyhound trainers, and said that was consistent with the Liberal Party election commitments.
“As noted in our election policy, this needs to be at the right price — not any price,” Minister Howlett said.
Howlett said the Tasmanian Government was firstly keen to invest in thoroughbred and harness infrastructure in the north of Tasmania.
“We are also looking forward to working with Tasracing to implement our election commitment to invest $2 million in the Burnie, Spreyton, and Carrick Racecourses to ensure that racing remains vibrant in regional and rural areas,” Minister Howlett said.
But for the time being, the Tasmnaian Government has firmly put that ball back in Tasracing's court to find and create a viable and financially sensible plan for a third greyhound track in Tasmania.
“The Tasmanian Government remains committed to providing the appropriate funding support for this solution, once we have considered a detailed business case at the appropriate time,” Minister Howlett said.