The Palaszczuk Government has announced 13 race clubs across the Darling Downs, Maranoa and South West Queensland will share in more than $750,000 in infrastructure funding as part of its Country Racing Program.
Funded under the four-year, $70.4 million Country Racing Support Package, non-TAB clubs can apply to Racing Queensland (RQ) for projects relating to infrastructure repairs and maintenance.
Mr Hinchliffe said today's announcement equated to jobs and a boost to the economies in these regions.
"Coming at this time, when the global economy is taking blow after blow as a result of the pandemic, this funding is yet another avenue for Queensland to unite and recover.
"We're expecting to announce a third round before the end of the year, which again means jobs and another decent shot in the arm of the economies of successful communities."
The 20 projects across the Darling Downs, Maranoa and South West regions are:
- Central Warrego Race Club: $24,000 - Inside running rail upgrade;
- Maranoa Diggers' Race Club: $27,000 - External boundary fencing;
- Morven Race Club: $20,000 - Outside running rail repairs;
- Roma Turf Club: $155,000 Upgrade of jockeys and stewards' room (subject to additional local Government funding); and upgrade of camera and 600m stewards' towers;
- Chinchilla Race Club: $245,000 - Upgrade jockeys' room / Secretary office building; and shared barrier stalls and transport trailer;
- Clifton Jockey Club: $20,000 Barrier padding upgrade; and swab stall upgrade;
- Jandowae Race Club: $76,000 - Boundary clearing of outside running rail; boundary fence construction; and running rail upgrade;
- Oakey & District Race Club: $25,000 - Track base upgrade (600m - 700m);
- Stanthorpe Jockey Club: $47,000 - Stewards/photo finish tower upgrade; drainage works to track; remove and replace 500m of outside running rail;
- Tara Race Club: $29,000 - Barrier stalls refurbishment (padding and paint);
- Texas Jockey Club: $14,000 - New stewards and video operator structure;
- Wandoan Diggers' Race Club: $70,000 - Running rail upgrade; and
- Esk Jockey Club: $7000 - Barrier refurbishment.
Mr Hinchliffe said country racing was the heartbeat of many communities across Queensland.
"The majority of our non-TAB clubs have seen their meetings either cancelled or postponed during COVID-19, and as such, their capacity to fund much-needed infrastructure improvements has been further diluted.
"This package has delivered great results for Queensland's racing industry and the latest round of CRP funding will be warmly welcomed."
