- $5.7 million in racing infrastructure upgrades across the State
- Majority of grant funding to benefit country and regional clubs
- 61 projects in total supported across two funding programs
Queensland racing clubs will soon benefit from $5.7 million in infrastructure upgrades throughout 2024-25.
Racing Minister Grace Grace has announced 41 projects at 36 country thoroughbred racing clubs across the State will receive $3 million worth of infrastructure grants through the second round of the Country Club Asset Funding (CCAF) program.
The CCAF supports country clubs with infrastructure repairs, along with maintenance and asset replenishment.
Since its inception in 2023, this funding stream provides more money annually for country infrastructure projects as the result of the government's betting tax reforms, with 80 percent of collected revenue invested back into the industry.
Racing Queensland will also provide a further $2.7 million for 20 projects at 18 TAB thoroughbred, greyhound and harness racing clubs through its Asset Management funding, with the majority of the clubs benefitting from this additional funding located in regional Queensland.
Some of projects for the second round of Country Club Asset Funding include:
- Judges' facility upgrades at Dawson Jockey Club and Mount Isa Race Club;
- New barrier stalls at Julia Creek Turf Club, Morven Race Club, Springsure Jockey Club and Yeppoon Turf Club;
- New tie-up stalls at Burdekin Race Club, Cooktown Amateur Turf Club, Cunnamulla & District Diggers' Race Club and Talwood Race Club;
- Stewards' towers at Birdsville Race Club and Gladstone Turf Club; and
- Running rail installations at Birdsville Race Club, Bundaberg Race Club, Burrandowan Picnic Race Club, Clermont Race Club, Gordonvale Turf Club, Innisfail Turf Club, Moranbah Race Club and Roma Turf Club.
Some of the $2.7 million worth of projects to be delivered through Racing Queensland's Asset Management funding include:
- Upgrade to the jockeys' room at Mackay Turf Club;
- New machinery shed at Cairns Jockey Club;
- Stewards' tower at Brisbane Racing Club;
- New barrier stalls at Kilcoy Race Club;
- New lure rail at Townsville Greyhound Racing Club; and
- New tie-up stalls and swab box at Marburg Pacing Association.
As stated by Minister for Racing Grace Grace:
"More than 80 of Queensland's 120 racing clubs are in communities where a race meeting is the biggest or second biggest annual event, which is why our strong investment in projects at country and regional racing clubs that is delivering jobs, infrastructure improvements and community benefits is so important."
"Recent data shows that the racing contributed a record $2.4 billion annually towards the Queensland economy, double what it contributed since Labor came to office in 2015, and more than half of that directly benefits regional economies."
"The Miles Government is proud to continuing to supporting racing clubs with a pipeline of infrastructure projects, large and small, right across the State."
