Greyhound participants on the Mid-North Coast can expect to be racing at a new 'Super Track' at Taree in early 2024.
Greyhound Racing NSW Chief Executive Officer Mr Rob Macaulay has today confirmed that with preliminary planning now completed and the tender process underway, works on the $4.1 million racetrack are expected to commence in October with a completion date set for January.
"The three Mid-North Coast clubs met with GRNSW last year and the outcome was that a Super Track would be built at Taree with both Wauchope and Kempsey then to be used as training facilities," Mr Macaulay said.
"Unfortunately there has been a number of delays with this project which have been beyond our control, but I can confirm now that we are on track, the tender process will close soon and construction will begin in October, with a completion date in late January."
Taree will have a new two turn 474.9m (circumference increased from 462m) track with the surface changed from grass to sand, which will increase the racing capacity of the track and see a more consistent surface. Turns will be a larger radii from 52m to 57m, transitions will be added, there will be increased flood resistance, and a SafeChase lure system will be installed.
The track will have three new starts, a 300m, 400m, and 525m. A 300m slipping track will also be added, as will a new semaphore board and winning post, and improvements to kennels and tower.
"Once complete the people of the Mid-North Coast will have a track and venue to be proud of, one capable of racing multiple times a week, and importantly one designed to be one of the safest in NSW," Mr Macaulay said.
Local MP, Tanya Thompson, the Member for Myall Lakes, was delighted with the news and declared this a day which locals have been awaiting.
"Greyhound racing participants on the Mid-North Coast have been waiting for this day," Mrs Thompson said. "It was some time ago now that plans were announced for the Taree Super Track, and to now know that it will only be a matter of months away before completion is tremendous news for the region.
"We have a lot of participants in this region, and it is very important that they have a state of the art track to race their dogs at, and even more significantly, a track which will be among the safest tracks in NSW."
GRNSW's announcement came as a recent IER report, which scoped the entire NSW greyhound racing industry, has revealed that $12.8 million in value-added economic activity is generated annually by greyhound racing on the Mid-North Coast.
"The Mid-North Coast is a vital region for our sport, with more than 600 roles occupied across breeders, owners, trainers, racing club and industry staff, volunteers and other deeply valued participants," Mr Macaulay said.
"These are the locals in a community who invest in the towns across the Mid-North Coast, not to mention pay taxes and contribute to the State's coffers – both directly and indirectly – to the tune of $12.8 million per annum.
"The flow on effects from the region's greyhound industry touch a lot of other businesses in the community as well as providing livelihoods for many hard-working people."
