Queensland Racing Minister Grace Grace won’t give timeline for redevelopment of Ipswich Turf and Greyhound Clubs

RACING Minister Grace Grace has refused to give a timeline on the redevelopment of the Ipswich Turf and Greyhound Clubs.

Greyhounds at Ipswich.

RACING Minister Grace Grace has refused to give a timeline on the redevelopment of the Ipswich Turf and Greyhound Clubs, despite former Minister Bill Byrne promising the upgrade a year ago.

The Minister was put under the blowtorch by former Police Minister, turned Government backbencher Jo-Anne Miller during a tense Estimates Hearing in State Parliament on Tuesday night.

Ipswich Turf Club General manager, Brett Kitching previously told The Courier-Mail the planned development of moving the Ipswich Greyhound Club to the Turf Club had been in the wings for over eight years, pending approval from the Racing Queensland board.

Greyhounds at Ipswich.

Ms Grace on Tuesday night acknowledged the poor state of the greyhound club, however said the final decision rested with the Racing Queensland board.

She said that she had written to the newly formed board and made it a priority that the matter be looked at.

“I have highlighted the need for them to look at as a priority the Ipswich turf club business plan and their infrastructure needs and I will leave it up to the board to undergo the governance and application process to determine how quickly they can ensure the infrastructure needs of the Ipswich turf club,” she said.

“I believe their plan has a lot of merit and is something that the Racing Queensland board should look at and work with the club, particularly as the Ipswich Greyhound racing club which race at the Ipswich show grounds.”

Local MP Ms Miller said that the locals in her electorate of Bundama were “losing faith in the system” and had been “waiting too long.”

Ms Grace responded by saying she “hoping” the process could move quickly, however stopped short of giving guarantees.

“It would be up to them (RQ Board) to determine how quickly, if at all, which I’m sure they are looking favourably at it, they can move towards getting infrastructure,” she said.

“Hopefully they’ll get an answer fairly quickly.”

Originally published as Queensland Racing Minister Grace Grace won’t give timeline for redevelopment of Ipswich Turf and Greyhound Clubs