Queensland’s former integrity commission regime spends $12 million on dud testing centre

Queensland’s former racing integrity commission regime spent a small fortune of taxpayer money on a new racing and science centre that may not even be used because it is not up to standard.

The site of 40 and 42 Campbell Street is unlikely to be used as QRIC’s new Racing and Science Centre. Picture: David Clark

Queensland’s former racing integrity regime spent $12 million on a new racing science centre that is not fit for purpose and could be sold off before it is used.

It can be revealed the Queensland Racing Integrity Commission’s much-spruiked new Racing Science Centre needs so much money spent on it to bring it up to scratch, the new leadership team are considering their options.

QRIC, under the leadership of the controversial Shane Gillard, paid $12 million for the 1766sq m site at Bowen Hills in 2023 when the 2032 Brisbane Olympics blueprint had the current Albion Park headquarters to be demolished as part of a new precinct.

With QRIC’s new leadership team signalling their intentions to significantly increase their pre and post-race testing regime, there are concerns the Bowen Hills site would need so much work done to it to bring it up to a certain standard, it would cost more than the original $12 million spend in renovations.

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New commissioner Catherine Clark said increasing their capacity for sampling was one of their main priorities, however it will need an adequate racing and science centre to do that.

“One of the things we feel is we need to increase capacity (to test), so we are pausing on Bowen Hills because we aren’t convinced it is the right option for us,” she said.

“We have had professionals go and spend a lot of time at Bowen Hills while also spending a lot of time at the existing centre and consulted staff and we are resetting our strategic plan.

“We will take some time to assess what other options there are, including renovating and expanding the existing racing science centre.

Former Queensland Racing Integrity Commissioner Shane Gillard.

“As it presents to us at the moment, since purchasing this Bowen Hills centre, there has been a big increase in the cost of construction and a bunch of other things.

“It looks incredibly challenging and exceeds the initial investment the government committed to.”

It’s understood QRICs preference is for the current centre to be renovated and brought up to speed for an expanded sampling and testing regime should it not be identified in the new government’s 100-day review for the Olympic Games.

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With the former QRIC regime often coming under fire for their budget blowouts, Clark said they were extremely conscious of how they spend money, while increasing integrity in the sport.

“We have a racing science centre, which we think has world-class people in it, but it has no more capacity for growth,” she said.

“We are fully aware this investment of taxpayer dollars has to work really, really hard and we are also aware we need to increase our capacity for sampling and the requirement to have sufficient space to house world-class testing equipment as part of our integrity role in racing.

“Queensland’s racing industry is growing and thriving and QRIC has to keep pace with that progress.

“There is a legacy decision where the funding required to transform Bowen Hills into a world class racing science centre looks very challenging, so we are going to go back to the table with the new minister and talk about our options in the new year to find the best investment of taxpayer money.”

Originally published as Queensland’s former integrity commission regime spends $12 million on dud testing centre