IMPORTANT DEVELOPMENT

The Board of the Sunshine Coast Racing Pty Ltd, as trustee of the Sunshine Coast Racing Trust, has approved a new equine precinct which will be built at the Corbould Park track in Coloundra.

It is anticipated that work on the new development will commence in the New Year. The project is based on demand and will be undertaken in two phases.

The first phase, which will comprise 256 modules, is expected to be completed by the end of August 2009. The second phase will provide an additional 160 modules. On completion, the stabling complex will thus house no less than 416 modules, which can be utilised as stables or feed rooms or tack rooms.

The stabling complex will be positioned on the rise next to the 1600m and 1800m starts. This location will help the horses to benefit from the sea breezes that cool the area.

The complex will provide auxiliary services which will include an equine swimming pool; horse-walkers on a ratio of 1 to 50: sand rolls on a ratio of 1 to 25 and hose down bays on a ratio of 1 to 20.

Each block will comprise 64 stables which can be divided into smaller segments of eight, sixteen or thirty-two.

Sunshine Coast Racing has finalised a business model for the stabling project. The indicative costing per stable for those on a lease option is $60 to $80 (plus GST) per week, for a long term lease, and $70 to $90 (plus GST)per week, for a short-term lease.

This fee includes stabling, use of all auxiliary services and manure removal. The stabling precinct will have on-site management to ensure security and cleanliness is maintained at all times.

Sunshine Coast Racing is also considering allowing outright ownership of stables within the precinct. To this end, Sunshine Coast Racing has developed an ‘Expression Of Interest’ document which is available on both the Queensland Racing Limited and Sunshine Coast Turf Club websites. The return deadline for the Expression Of Interest forms is January 19.