Scenic Rim Council has welcomed news the Beaudesert Race Club is in the winners’ enclosure following the announcement of multi-million dollar upgrade to the local facility.
“This is great news for the Beaudesert Race Club and the wider community,” Scenic Rim Mayor John Brent said. “This region has long been identified as a premier equine area and much work has been done by predecessor councils to encourage owners and trainers to the area.
“This council has lobbied hard and worked with Racing Queensland to help deliver this outcome, which will deliver dividends to the racing fraternity and race fans alike. An upgrade of the race club been mooted many times but, finally, we have a locked in financial commitment.”
$8.2 million in planned improvements at the course were unveiled as part of revisions to the $110 million Industry Infrastructure Plan (IIP) by Racing Queensland Limited (RQL) and the Queensland Government.
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| Scenic Rim Mayor John Brent |
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The Beaudesert Race Club will receive a new jockey and official's area, the existing drainage of the racetrack will be substantially improved and new fencing erected around the track. The tie-up area will be upgraded, there will be new public facilities and a new sand track will also be provided.
“The upgrade of the Beaudesert Race Club will be of tremendous assistance to equine businesses in area but, more importantly, it will be catalyst for more local jobs,” Cr Brent said.
“The commitment of the volunteers who manage the Beaudesert Race Club is to lauded.” Beaudesert Race Club president Royce Ahrens said the upgrade represented a significant step towards the club regaining TAB status and thanked Scenic Rim Regional Council for its ongoing support.
“We could not have asked for more from the local council and Racing Queensland,” Mr Ahrens said.
Mr Ahrens said upgrade work was expected to begin by the end of the month and would require the postponement of scheduled race meetings to the second half of the year.
However, the club is already planning a grand resumption to racing at the track in August. Beaudesert’s race course has a long history, with the first race meeting held on April 16, 1879, as the Logan and Albert Jockey Club. The last significant upgrade at the race course was in 2001, with the inclusion of an all-weather track.