Werribee Racing Club to receive much needed upgrades

[Wandering Eyes]

Werribee Racing Club Photo: Alex Forbes

The Werribee Racing Club will receive a much-needed new operations building and a more sustainable water supply, after a funding announcement from the Victorian Government.

Victorian Racing Industry Fund (VRID) is investing over half a million dollars into the Werribee Operations Building Upgrade project, with the club contributing more than $167,00 and close to $400,000 from Racing Victoria and Country Racing Victoria.

Race day officials along with jockeys and stewards are set to be the biggest beneficiaries from the upgrade, which includes a new building alongside the current grandstand, providing a modern space for stewards and jockeys.

The project is expected to be finished later this month having supported up to 30 jobs during construction.

Minister for Racing Anthony Carbines made the announcement on Thursday morning, with a further $148,000 from the VRIF invested into the Werribee Water Sustainability project. Werribee Racing Club will chip in more than $44,000, with a further $104,000 coming from Racing Victoria and Country Racing Victoria.

“Our investment will help ensure race meetings at Werribee operate smoothly with modern infrastructure for industry participants, as well as a safe, consistent racing surface and significant cost savings in the long run,” he said.

Currently, the club buys thousands of litres of potable water to maintain the racecourse surface to a standard that is safe for officials, jockeys, and horses.

The project will allow for 150,000 litres a day, a new bore, and a licence to pump water from the nearby Werribee River. The upgrade will give the club ample water to keep the track in good condition year-round and will dramatically reduce costs.

Since December 2014, the Government has invested more than $1.82 million to support racing infrastructure projects at Werribee Racing Club.

“These are two much needed projects that ensure that Werribee Racing Club has the facilities to continue operations. We thank the Victorian Government for its support,” Werribee Racing Club Chair Robert Jarvis said.

The thoroughbred racing industry generates $3.43 billion for the Victorian economy and helps sustain over 25,700 jobs.

There is expected to be further announcements surrounding funding for regional horse racing tracks in Victoria ahead of the November election, with the Andrews Government lagging in polling in key country battlegrounds.

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