Racing Queensland has taken the next step in its Deagon Racecourse master planning process by appointing a town planner and architect to assist with the project.
At the start of the financial year, RQ announced it would commence concept master planning at Deagon with a view to establishing a multi-purpose State Training Centre.
The State Training Centre is viewed as a key solution to the declining residential stabling numbers in South East Queensland – along with providing a training environment for apprentice jockeys and stable hands - and forms part of a significant reform agenda for RQ designed to support its commercial and strategic objectives.
Having recently appointed Urbis as its town planner and Cox Architecture, the urban design professionals will assist RQ with its community engagement activities throughout 2020 to ensure the local community – and racing participants – are able to assist the organisation in understanding stakeholder views and to help shape the master planning process.
RQ will also liaise with Brisbane City Council in relation to its Sandgate District Neighbourhood Plan.
Racing Minister and Member for Sandgate Stirling Hinchliffe said the appointment of a town planner and architect was an important milestone in the master planning process.
“Under the RQ proposal, the State Training Centre would serve as a state-of-the-art equine precinct, supporting the heritage requirements placed on Deagon to maintain its status as a racing and sporting precinct,” he said.
“Just as importantly, however, they have committed to working with their technical advisors and the community to explore what additional uses could compliment the site.”
In conjunction with the training and educational components of the facility, additional uses that could benefit the community and assist in activating the local area include:
- Community sporting facilities;
- Farmers markets;
- Dining;
- Retail;
- Entertainment; and
- Accommodation.
Final uses will be determined through a comprehensive land use assessment and subsequent consideration of suitability by RQ prior to any lodgement of a development application.
As part of this process, community engagement is considered essential to RQ, with the Deagon Racecourse synonymous with the local area and forming part of its social fabric.
RQ CEO Brendan Parnell said he was pleased to see the project taking its next steps.
“We’d like to quadruple the current stable numbers at Deagon, so it’s great to see the project advancing,” Mr Parnell said.
“The declining stabling numbers in South East Queensland is one of our real challenges and the establishment of a multi-purpose State Training Centre is viewed as a key solution.
“Additionally, it would also allow us to create a world-class training and education environment for our participants and usher in a new era for racing in Queensland.”
In coming months, the technical consultants will provide RQ with a clearer understanding of the site constraints, along with the opportunities contained within the Deagon Racecourse precinct.
During this time, they will engage with various stakeholders to provide preliminary information on the project.
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