The Palaszczuk Government has approved $2.5 million worth of funding for the replacement of the Sunshine Coast Turf Club’s synthetic track.
Since April 2008, the Sunshine Coast Turf Club has been the home of the first synthetic racing and training surface in Queensland.
The track consists of a formulated mixture of long and short synthetic fibres, rubber, silicon sand and wax. This synthetic track was also made and specifically designed for Queensland’s weather conditions and in particular Corbould Park.
Having synthetic surfaces at the Sunshine Coast Turf Club for more than a decade has resulted in a handful of benefits for both the club and its users, including minimal irrigation, low maintenance costs, all-weather surface use even in the most inclement conditions, and improved rider safety and substantial reduction in soft tissue injuries in horses.
Synthetic Track Replacement
With the synthetic track showing its age, the Sunshine Coast Turf Club has presented plans for track replacement, which is estimated to cost $7 million.
The State Government has approved funding coming from the Racing Infrastructure Fund (RIF) to be invested in the club’s track replacement project, in the hope of contributing to the growth and sustainability of Queensland racing. It’s also aimed at helping the industry generate income as well as lasting community benefits.
According to Racing Minister Stirling Hinchliffe, replacing the synthetic track would result in having wider benefits for the racing industry throughout southeast Queensland.
“By working together with SCTC and the Sunshine Coast Racing Unit Trust, this investment will improve safety for horses and riders alike,” he said.
“A new synthetic track can stand up to a heavy workload than is possible on turf tracks, able to deal just as easily with too much water or not enough.
“That means we will be able to lean on the Sunshine Coast to carry more meetings when renovations are being undertaken at other tracks, or when meetings might otherwise be abandoned due to weather.”
Peter Boyce, Sunshine Coast Turf Club’s chairman, said that the new track would give the club a different stance from other racing venues.
“We have 400 horses using the track every day, so this is funding for an essential upgrade and most appreciated,” he said.
“The surface needs to be replaced urgently – it’s a racing track as well as a training track so all participants will benefit from it.
“The important thing is that it’s not just a track for us – it’s a track for the industry as well.”