GBOTA's Orange Dream Edges One Step Closer

THE highly-touted Centre of Excellence greyhound complex at Orange is one step closer to reality after the NSW Greyhound Breeders, Owners And Trainers' Association (GBOTA) entered into a formal contract with Orange City Council on Friday.

Last November, the GBOTA reached a preliminary agreement with Orange City Council to purchase land on the town's eastern outskirts to construct an all-purpose facility, the move in response to the demise of racing at Bathurst in 2022 due to an extreme flood event.

The arrangement gave the NSW GBOTA an allotment of time to proceed with purchasing the $1.5 million block of land which has been dormant for approximately a decade since the cessation of harness racing in the town.

In a shot-in-the-arm for greyhound racing in the central west, the NSW GBOTA on Friday took up the six figure option deed to purchase the land.

In announcing the move, GBOTA general manager Daniel Weizman said it was an important first step in bringing the project to life.

"We are now a step closer to re-introducing greyhound racing and creating a Centre of Excellence in Orange," Weizman said.

"The site is fantastic. It has been a lot of work, but it is now coming together. This will create jobs and investment in the Central West and provide important facilities for the entire community.

"It will be a boost to breeders, owners, trainers and race fans as well as creating local amenities for the whole community.

"Make no mistake, the NSW greyhound racing industry has a bright future with its world's best practice in animal safety; prize money at an all-time high; and track and new facilities like Orange being created ensuring the welfare of our greyhounds."

With the purchase of the land now secured, the GBOTA will quickly shift its attention to the Development Application (DA) process, where preliminary work has already been undertaken.

Given the immense support the council has for the project, which is said could inject $20 million annually into the local economy, it's envisaged work could begin as early as late this year.

The GBOTA media statement revealed Greyhound Racing NSW (GRNSW) has promised 52 race dates for Orange.  

It's understood that funding for the project is yet to be fully finalised.

The NSW GBOTA has around $9 million in cash reserves while the potential sale of Appin has also been mooted as a likely source of funding.

The Association still holds hope that local Orange MP Phil Donato – a passionate greyhound racing enthusiast and huge supporter of the project – can secure government funding also.

News that the timeline for Orange has been expedited brings it in line with the redevelopment of the Lithgow track.

Following the cessation of racing at Bathurst in 2022, GRNSW declared its intentions to return TAB racing to Lithgow on a permanent basis.

But the $3.1 million project has been met with delay after delay with work still yet to begin despite hopes racing would be up and running in the 2023-2024 racing season.