Water issues lead to fears for Clare Valley Racing Club’s future

One of the state’s major country racing clubs is in danger of folding due to issues around water access and costs.

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Water availability and cost issues could see the Clare Valley Racing Club fold, and with it race days that attract thousands to the region.

The club holds three race meets a year and its Easter race is one of the biggest events on the Mid North calendar.

But club secretary Tanya Bertelsmeier said a low water allocation and hefty fines for using extra water is placing the future of Clare races in jeopardy.

“We have a 19,950 kilolitre allocation, while Oakbank has a 150,000 kilolitre allocation, but we hold the same amount of race meetings each year,” she said.

The club uses underground water from the Hutt River and the bore the club uses to access the water has been metered for the past 10 years.

“We looked at bringing in water from another source, but the transport costs were going to be huge,” Mrs Bertelsmeier said.

Clare Valley Racing Club secretary Tanya Bertelsmeier with groundsman David Meaney and track rider Emma Meaney on horse Epic. Picture: Tait Schmaal.

Mrs Bertelsmeier said it was hard for the club to keep the track up to recommended safety standards due to water issues.

She said even an extra 10,00 kilolitres would go a long way to keeping the club going.

“We’ve just put in a new irrigation system, to ensure there’s no overlapping when watering, but we don’t expect that will make a great deal of difference,” she said.

“We only water from November through to April and the season dictates how much water we need to use.

“Thoroughbred Racing SA has guidelines on how tracks should be kept. On a scale of one to 10, where one is really dry and 10 is really wet, we need to be keeping the track at least at a 4.”

Mrs Bertelsmeier said as well as availability, the cost of water was a major issue, with the Department for Environment and Water issuing fines when greater amounts than the 19,950 kilolitre allocation was used.

“The cost of water goes up and up,” she said.

“If we go up to 10 per cent over our allocation, we’re charged 46 cents a kilolitre, if it’s between 10 to 25 per cent, it’s $1.38 a kilolitre and if it’s over 25 per cent, it’s $2.53 a kilolitre,” she said.

“If we keep going over our allocation, they can also suspend out water licence and cut off our supply.”

Mrs Bertelsmeier said it would be a huge shame if the club were to fold.

“We draw 10,000 to 12,000 people a year to the Clare Valley,” she said.

“When we hold races, the accommodation gets booked out, the business at the cellar doors goes up, even the local supermarket and other shops benefit.”

Club chairman Gerald Mulligan said with the race days generating large spends in the local community, it would be a major loss if the club were to fold.

“One of the main reasons we need more water is because tracks need to be a lot softer these days,’ he said.

“We used to race on quite a firm surface but these days you need a lot more give in the track.

“Some of the horses that race up here are worth hundreds of thousands of dollars, and you don’t want them breaking down.”

Environment Minister David Speirs said the volume allocated to the racing club was consistent with the rules in the Clare Valley Prescribed Water Resources Area allocation plan.

“When the Clare Valley was prescribed as a water resources area in 1999, water licence allocations were issued to existing water users based on the water use practices that occurred in the period from 1992 to 1999 including the allocation for the Clare Valley Racing Club,” he said.

“The zoning has no bearing on water allocations, as the allocations were determined by the area of turf being irrigated.

“The issue is that the racing club has increased the area being irrigated from 2007 onwards.

“However because the prescribed water resources for the Clare Valley Prescribed Water Resources Area are fully allocated, there is no further water available for allocation.

“The club has been advised that they may wish to consider purchasing a water allocation from another existing licence holder. The club has also been advised to discuss the matter with the Northern and Yorke Natural Resources Management Board, which is considering a review of the region’s water allocation plan.”

Thoroughbred Racing SA chief executive Jim Watters said the Clare Valley Racing Club is a critical part of the country racing community in South Australia.

“Country clubs like Clare are thriving — they are run by passionate volunteers and hold popular events year-round which generate benefits felt throughout the extended community,” he said.

“Thoroughbred Racing SA has been working hard to help the club deal with this ongoing issue, by supporting them in making representations to council and their local MP. We have also ensured the club is well equipped to manage water efficiency by investing more than $250,000 in a state-of-the-art irrigation system.

“We have always and will continue to invest in our country clubs because we know how valuable they are to regional communities and to the South Australian racing industry.”

The Clare Valley Racing Club’s next race day, the Clare Cup, is scheduled to be held on November 24.