Caulfield Racecourse: Crown land finally handed back for community use as new trust appointed

NEGLECTED crown land the size of 20 MCGs inside Caulfield Racecourse could finally be freed up to be used as sports grounds.

NEGLECTED public land at Caulfield Racecourse Reserve looks like finally being unlocked for community use.

Sports clubs could be playing inside the racetrack as early as next year after a new trust was appointed to improve public access at the site.

Authorities have long called for the 54ha parcel of crown land — the equivalent of more than 20 MCGs — to be turned into desperately-needed sports grounds.

HAVE YOUR SAY: Should Caulfield Racecourse land be opened up to local sports clubs? Tell us below

A redevelopment plan was first slated in 2013 but the land has barely been used, because it remains hard to access and dominated by racing interests.

LEGISLATIVE CHANGE TO OPEN UP PUBLIC LAND

PRESSURE MOUNTS TO UNLOCK CAULFIELD RACECOURSE RESERVE

The former body governing the reserve was asked to resign by the government last year after a series of unresolved disputes.

Glen Eira councillor Mary Delahunty has long campaigned for the reserve to be unlocked and says a lot of problems would be solved if horse training was relocated and “four or five soccer grounds and a couple of footy grounds” were built.

Sporting clubs in Caulfield are crying out to use the land inside the racecourse.

The municipality has just 45 sports grounds for more than 60 registered clubs, with many playing in other areas because of the lack of space.

Cr Delahunty says the new trust should take over the carpark as a revenue-making tool, take on debt against it, and develop the centre immediately.

“We are saying no to new soccer teams all the time and one year … we turned down 30 junior soccer teams, which is heartbreaking,” Cr Delahunty said.

“They all have to find homes somewhere else while this piece of land sits there looking at you.

“Forming this independent body is the first step and probably the hardest one in (making the sports grounds a reality) and now it’ll have a domino effect for what that land should have always been doing.”

The trust will be chaired by business leader Sam Almaliki, as well as six other people experienced in land management, planning, business administration and community participation.

Glen Eira councillor Mary Delahunty at the Caulfield Racecourse Reserve. Picture: Chris Eastman

Melbourne Racing Club chief executive Josh Blanksby said there were no current plans to relocate training, but the appointments were a “step towards securing the long-term future of the historic racing site”.

“We have always actively contributed to ensuring the racecourse is a place that can be enjoyed by the local community, which we look forward to resolving,” he said.

Labor Oakleigh MP Steve Dimopoulos agreed it was a new chapter for the reserve.

“The new trust is charged with managing (the reserve) as a place for everyone — residents, racing enthusiasts, and community groups — to ensure our community is getting the most out of it,” he said.

MORE NEWS

TRADERS FIGHT BACK AGAINST SMOKING BAN

STATE GOVERNMENT CALLED ON TO PLAN QUARRY HOUSING