Greyhound Racing NSW (GRNSW) is now looking for a new Sydney site to replace its Wentworth Park venue which is to be developed for housing.
Greyhound Racing NSW (GRNSW) has formed a Sydney Metropolitan Racing Precinct (SMRP) working group to study all options.
Late last year, the NSW Government said they would not renew the lease at Wentworth Park when it expires in September 2027. They intend to build 7300 new homes on the 14-hectare site.
The decision stunned greyhound NSW officials at the time but they remain keen to keep racing in Sydney.
“As an industry we need a premier metropolitan venue,” GRNSW Chief Executive Officer Steve Griffin says.
“There are a number of options that need to be closely scrutinised.
“The working group will provide GRNSW with advice on what we should build to replace Wentworth Park which will assist in determining the likely cost of the new precinct and the size of the land that will be required,” Griffin explains.
GREYHOUND TRACK
“The first thing we need to know is exactly what we want as an industry.
“We will need to factor in costs and look at the amount of compensation we receive from the government for vacating Wentworth Park, the location, and type of facility and track and then look at whether to include additional services such as vet practice, boarding kennels, education and training facilities.”
The government is offering $10 million to help GRNSW upgrade other tracks.
“Naturally this is not a decision to be made hastily, however, due to the circumstances we are in, it is a decision we must move swiftly on in the short time frame we have been handed,” Griffin says.
“The intent is to have plans developed for the new SMRP by the middle of this year and a location finalised so that, before the end of this year the industry will know what we are going to build, where we are going to build it, and when it is likely to be ready for the industry to use.”
The working group will consist of NSW trainers, breeders, owners and trainers, the GRNSW says.
