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Country racing clubs set for $2.6 million windfall

12 January 2022

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Racing Minister Grace Grace has announced 36 clubs from across regional Queensland will soon share in $2.6 million in infrastructure funding.

With 51 projects to be delivered, 73 jobs are expected to be created through the fourth round of the Country Racing Program, which provides funding to some of the state’s smallest racing clubs for repairs and maintenance, along with asset replenishment and replacement.

Approved projects include:

  • Significant track remediation at Camooweal Jockey Club and Burdekin Race Club;
  • Refurbishment and/or replacement of starting gates at Richmond Turf Club, Cloncurry & District Race Club, Julia Creek Turf Club, Bowen Turf Club, Innisfail Turf Club, Ewan Amateur Turf Club and Nanango Racing Club;
  • Running rail improvements at Quilpie Diggers' Race Club, Oakley Amateur Picnic Race Club, Tower Hill Picnic Amateur Race Club, Springsure Jockey Club and Calliope Jockey Club; and
  • Improved towers at Chinchilla Race Club, Dingo Race Club and Longreach Jockey Club.

Minister Grace said the Palaszczuk Government’s Country Racing Program had delivered hundreds of jobs across the state since the first round of grants in 2019.

“The Country Racing Program continues to deliver great results across regional and remote Queensland,” she said.

“In just three years, almost 250 projects have been approved, providing much needed repairs and maintenance for our country racing clubs.

“Just as importantly, the Country Racing Program generates jobs for local businesses and trades, supporting Queensland's economic recovery plan.

“The fourth round of the Country Racing Program will ensure that further improvements are undertaken with significant track projects, along with enhancements for animal care.”

As part of the Racing Queensland application process, clubs were invited to partake through an online submission portal and were asked to address the project assessment criteria.

Following a vetting process, a short-list was developed for RQ’s Country Racing Panel before final approval was granted.

A full list of grants is available here.