Big year in store for Racecourse Road traders, starting with this weekend’s race day
Racecourse Road business owners have placed an odds-on bet that this weekend’s raceday will help draw the crowds back to the iconic Brisbane shopping strip. And they have another secret weapon up their sleeve …
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RACECOURSE Rd traders like the odds that this weekend’s special raceday will be the first in a series of events that will attract crowds back to the shopping strip this year.
Racecourse Road Business Group (RRBG) organising committee member Lauren Holland, who owns Joli Boutique, said local businesses had stepped up to sponsor the Rediscover Racecourse Road Raceday, and were inviting members of the public to come along and join the fun.
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“It is a chance for us to celebrate with the local community and really show off the amazing businesses on our road,” Ms Holland said. “We have an amazing function happening in the Birdcage … a real highlight of the day is the raffle.
“We have over $2500 in prizes from Racecourse Road businesses including a $760 raceday experience for four people at the Girls Day out on February 23, donated by Brisbane Racing Club.
“All the money raised from the raffle will be going directly back into making Racecourse Road even more beautiful.”
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EVENT DETAILS: REDISCOVER RACECOURSE ROAD RACEDAY
Saturday, January 19, from 10.30am, Eagle Farm Racecourse
Entry from $10. Racecourse Road Bridcage Package: $140, includes cocktail-style lunch served throughout the day, plus 5hr beverage package
brc.com.au
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She said business confidence was higher in the area after racing returned to the Eagle Farm Racecourse in December. Official meets were moved to Doomben for four years during track rehabilitation work at the Ascot track.
“The races are such a big drawcard for our area and I know every business on Racecourse Rd is excited to see them back.”
A Brisbane Racing Club spokesperson said the first race meet back at the track, on December 22, had gone well.
“We are off to a promising start and look forward to bumper attendances across our feature racedays and our Winter Carnival,” he said.
“BRC thanks everyone for the strong support for our return to racing at Eagle Farm. The raceday was well-attended for our first meeting back at our traditional home of racing.
“The feedback from all participants on Saturday (December 22) was very positive. Here are a few thoughts from those who played a key role in the meeting:
“Jockey Michael Walker (winner of the first race): I take my hat off to everyone who has worked on this track. They have given it time and it was brilliant. Going to the start, it was really spongy and the horses were bouncing off it. At its best, this is one of the best tracks going around. It’s a beautiful track here. I look forward to the winter carnival being back here.
“Jockey Dale Smith: In those long races, I was able to go around the full circuit and the track felt amazing. If they can keep it to this standard, it’s going to be world class. It’s uniform and very kind to horses — there is no concussion going through their shoulders.
“Trainer Chris Munce: The track has been great — horses have been able to come from everywhere. It’s been a fair track and that’s important. It’s great to have it back.
“Chief Steward Peter Chadwick: Fantastic. Very pleased with it. Riders have been extremely happy with it. There hasn’t been big clumps come out of it, they have run good times, winners have come from behind and in front and it’s a fair track for everyone.”
PLANS TO LIGHT UP THE STREET
RRBG president Kate Peereboom said the organisation was also working on a major lighting project for the street.
She said more specific details could not be given at this time, as it was still in the early phases of development.
“Our aim is to try and obtain grant funding for this massive project — it’s a long road and we want to light it up like they have at Cavill Rd, Surfers Paradise, or Oxford St, Bulimba,” she said.
“A huge amount of work has gone into it as we are working with all three levels of government … we know people in the street are not in a position to pay for it.”
A public notice was delivered to residents last week about the project, asking for feedback about the concept before detailed plans were prepared.
The public consultation period closes on January 19. Email: info@Racecourse Rd.com.au
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MORE ON RACECOURSE RD:
OCT 2018: Rescue bid hope after market closure shock
Racecourse Rd traders ask: Give us a sign
DEC 2018: Eagle Farm race return is ‘the best Christmas present’
Why Kingsford Smith Dr won’t be finished until late-2020
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The notice mailed by RRBG to Racecourse Road traders said:
RE: PROPOSED RACECOURSE ROAD DECORATIVE TREE LIGHTING PROJECT
Dear Racecourse Road Property Owners and Tenants, Business Owners and Managers, Residents
As many of you will already know the Racecourse Road Business Group (RRBG) has been championing the preliminary feasibility and viability work, on behalf of the local business community, on a project to consider the installation of Decorative Tree Lighting into selected and suitable trees along Racecourse Road.
This work has included:
Consultation with the Brisbane City Council (BCC) to understand its objectives, guidelines and permit requirements for:
Rejuvenation projects for major Brisbane commercial / community hub precincts like the Racecourse Road;
Decorative Tree Lighting guidelines specifically (including legal / technical / environmental / safety / ongoing asset maintenance etc)
Studying other successful community tree lighting projects including:
Queen Street Mall
QUT Gardens
James Street
The Gasworks
Eat Street Markets
Cavill Avenue, Surfers Paradise
Hastings Street Roundabout, Noosa
The Rocks, Sydney
Securing detailed, fully compliant, and costed proposals from several pre-eminent suppliers of decorative tree lighting fixtures throughout Brisbane (and beyond), including various options for the installation of:
Bud Lighting (the little white ‘string’ lights) installed in trees;
Coloured overlay uplighting (to allow us to also colour theme the trees for various seasonal / promotional purposes) installed under / in trees;
Scenarios to install lighting in ‘part or whole’ (depending on budgets etc) including options for:
Several larger ‘statement trees’ only;
Selected ‘Boulevard’ trees along Racecourse Road only;
Various combinations thereof;
All selected and appropriate trees (up to circa 44 out of 70 trees along Racecourse Road)
Making preliminary applications for Tree Lighting Permits;
Making multiple applications for Grant Funding (with the support of our various Government partners at local Ward, BCC, State and Federal levels) to cover the costs of the project.
The RRBG thrilled to report at this stage that we have now progressed the work to the point where we have been notified yesterday that we have successfully secured adequate Grant Funding to at least make a solid ‘Phase 1’ start on the project. In parallel we anticipate notification on other Grant applications imminently, and hope that we may be able to secure adequate funds to potentially execute multiple Phases up front.
So, that being the case we are now at the point in the process where we want and need to:
Notify the whole owner / tenant / resident stakeholder group of the proposed project;
Seek your support for the project ‘in principle’
Secure your preliminary inputs / feedback
Detailed technical plans for the various scenarios are now being prepared for the purposes of full community engagement and consultation, but in the meantime can we please urgently secure your completion and return of the attached sheet to us at your earliest convenience, and if at all possible, not later than Friday 04 January 2019. We are required to supply this first round of feedback to the BCC by no later than the end of January 2019 as a condition of Grant Funding release.
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