Racehorse TALK

Minister back on track to give the Coast dogs a home

Geoff Chambers

April 8th, 2009

RACING Minister Peter Lawlor will sit down with greyhound industry bigwigs next week to outline plans to relocate the Gold Coast track.

A local consortium has lobbied politicians with their plan to build a major greyhound facility, with potential sites including Helensvale and Jacobs Well

An inside source told The Bulletin last night that the State Government must prioritise finding a new home for the lucrative greyhound industry.

"We need to have a track on the Gold Coast," he said.

"We have a lot of trainers and owners located on the Coast and they need a place to go.

"The plans that have been talked about so far just won't do.

"The track that was at Parklands is something that hasn't been replicated in southeast Queensland."

Mr Lawlor, who is a prominent member of the local turf and trots community, is expected to discuss options to keep the track on the Gold Coast.

The city was left without a greyhound track when the State Government closed down the facility at Parklands, to make way for the new Gold Coast University hospital.

The State Government had previously offered $10 million to find a suitable new home for the dogs.

A long-term plan is to deliver a new facility, which would cater for harness racing and potentially the Big Day Out music festival.

The Gold Coast Greyhound Racing Club, which is looking to gain support from Greyhounds Queensland, has put forward a proposal to build a $10 million complex, which could handle 400 patrons.

Liberal National Party racing spokesman Ray Stevens said he was aware of the concerns about Greyhounds Queensland focusing on a site at Logan, which could cost up to $40 million to build.

The Logan City Council has also jumped on board the bandwagon, pushing to steal the track away from the Gold Coast.

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Mr Stevens said a greyhound track would pump millions of dollars into the local economy.

"The site has to be easily accessible. We don't want it at whoop whoop," said Mr Stevens. "It is important that the Gold Coast greyhound community has access to a suitable facility."

City finance boss Cr Eddy Sarroff also said he would throw his weight behind keeping a greyhound track on the Gold Coast.

"I'm happy to say that we should be looking at every opportunity to accommodate a track," said Cr Sarroff.

"I would be very happy to assist in keeping the facility on the Gold Coast."

The Gold Coast City Council has been approached by consortiums seeking available land.

from the gold coast bulletin....