Goulburn Straight Track Future In The Balance

LONG-AWAITED plans to bring straight track racing to Goulburn remain in the balance despite Goulburn Council Mayor Peter Walker reaffirming his support of the project.

It was in August, 2022 that Mayor Walker joined Goulburn MP Wendy Tuckerman, then Racing Minister Kevin Anderson and Greyhound Racing NSW (GRNSW) CEO Rob Macaulay to announce that $6 million would be invested at Goulburn to build a new straight track and upgrade the current circle track.

The project, jointly funded by the NSW Government and GRNSW, was to transform Goulburn into a state-of-the-art facility, offering both straight and one-turn racing, with new lighting allowing night racing for the first time at the southern venue.

The announcement came amid much fanfare with the investment to prove a huge shot in the arm and breathe new life into greyhound racing in the southern tablelands and surrounding regions.

Yet almost two years on and with GRNSW spending in the vicinity of $1m on facilitating the Development Application (DA) process, work is yet to get underway as roadblock after roadblock by Council has reached a point where the project is in jeopardy.

In speaking to the Greyhound Recorder, Goulburn Mayor Peter Walker declared that he remains in support of the project, but said there were still various issues that needed to be worked through.

"Can I say the project has the support of the Council," Mayor Walker said.

"Council has two distinct roles in the process, which must remain separate.

"The first role being that it is an advocate for growth and economic development within the region. Council recognises that this project seeks to achieve this by bringing more people to the region.

"The second is making sure that it also carries out its responsibilities as a planning authority. In regards to the planning process, Council needs to ensure it remains transparent at all times.

“With regards to the DA, there are a number of matters that still need to be worked through which include factors such as ensuring the project doesn't conflict with the range of existing uses and user groups at the Goulburn Recreation Area, and working through flooding issues which are a constraint of the site."

In a last ditch effort to circumvent the costly and long running saga and save the project, GRNSW has tabled one final revised application to Council for consideration.

And if accepted, GRNSW CEO Rob Macaulay said the outcome will prove a "win-win" for not only greyhound racing but other users of the complex also.

"What we've proposed – which will alleviate any concerns the council may have – is to build the straight track in a manner in which it is totally removable on non race and trial day," Macaulay said.

"This eradicates concerns that not only other tenants may have but also with regard to a redundant part of land (lot 461) that has caused so many issues throughout this DA process.

"Essentially all we are proposing now is to beautify 350m of land with pristine grass and install a set of starting boxes. 

"The fencing and remainder of the track will be completely demountable.

"This outcome will provide the straight track racing we have promised for the Goulburn region in a cost effective manner while alleviating any concerns the Council may have at the same time.

"We are at a point now where the project needs to go one way or another and for that to happen it's vital everyone gets on the same page."