Ipswich Turf Club asks Racing Queensland to green light funding for racecourse redevelopment

ON THE eve of the 150th anniversary of the Ipswich Cup, the Ipswich Turf Club is still waiting for funding approval for a project that had its origins in 2008.

Ipswich Turf Club general manager Brett Kitching is still waiting for funding approval for a redevelopment of Ipswich racecourse. Picture: Peter Cronin

ON THE eve of the 150th anniversary of the Ipswich Cup, the Ipswich Turf Club is still waiting for funding approval for a project that had its origins in 2008.

Long before the Brisbane Racing Club had its Eagle Farm Master Plan, Ipswich proposed a redevelopment of its racecourse to provide financial certainty for the club.

Eight years later, the club is still waiting for the project to be approved by Racing Queensland, despite having been given assurances three times since 2010.

ITC general manager Brett Kitching said the most recent approval came from the former Queensland All Codes Racing Industry Board (QACRIB) in the weeks before it was dismissed by Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and then racing minister Bill Byrne last June.

The Courier-Mail understands QACRIB made demands including repayment of the loan and also sought assurances the model negated the need for the ongoing annual $1 million supplement. Those demands were satisfied in the ITC’s detailed proposal.

It would have been funded out of the $97.5 million Racing Development Fund, which has stood redundant for the past 12 months as RQ has been controlled by interim boards and executives.

“It’s difficult to accept,” Kitching said. “We have been ready for eight years. There is no issue with council. We just need the funding approval from Racing Queensland to make this happen.

“If we were given the approval, the track would be out of racing action for only four months.”

The previous approval came before the Eagle Farm redevelopment was given a jump start.

“We’re not complaining about that,” Kitching said. “We acknowledge Eagle Farm is the most important racetrack in Queensland and understood that took priority.

Brett Kitching is expecting a big turnout for Saturday’s Ipswich Cup. Picture: Peter Cronin

“But we now find ourselves eight years down the track from when the idea was put forward and six years on from when the first infrastructure fund came through and nothing has happened.”

Ipswich has proposed a tunnel under the track for pedestrians and vehicles. Horse stalls and parking would be moved to the infield, freeing up 2.83ha on the main road into Ipswich.

Kitching said making that land available for commercial development was a long-term funding solution.

“This would allow us to create a self-sustainable financial future and not have to rely on handouts,” he said.

Kitching said the cost of the project was $8 million, but that would increase to $14 million if a decision was made to include a greyhound racetrack on the infield.

Kitching hoped Saturday’s Ipswich Cup crowd would top 20,000. He said pre-sales for corporate areas were already up 1000 on last year at 12,000, with another 1000 in general admissions sold.

The Ipswich Cup was first run in 1866 at a different venue to the club current home.

Originally published as Ipswich Turf Club asks Racing Queensland to green light funding for racecourse redevelopment