Bunbury Turf Club Redevelopment Update
In December 2019, the Racing and Wagering Western Australia (RWWA) Board approved in principle, grant funding and authority to issue tender documentation for redevelopment of the Bunbury Turf Club turf and training tracks and replacement of the raceday stalls.
The construction tender for the new racing and training surfaces, including engineered drainage system, is due to be released next week, with the construction tender for the stalls to be distributed by the end of February 2020.
RWWA and the Bunbury Turf Club is working with the City of Bunbury to obtain necessary development and environmental approvals now that the detailed design is completed. The City of Bunbury’s Notice of Public Advertisement of Planning Proposal for the redevelopment will run concurrently with the tender processes.
Training will continue to be available at Bunbury Turf Club until at least the end of April 2020, with the civil works expected to commence on track in May 2020.
Following commencement of construction, training will not be available at Bunbury Turf Club for approximately 12 months. RWWA expects to be able to schedule a return to racing at Bunbury in late 2021.
Alternate Racing, Trialling and Training options:
- Race meetings will be allocated to other venues during the closure – RWWA is in discussion with Perth Racing to extend the Belmont Park midweek season to the end of 2020.
- Trial fees for Bunbury based trainers at other venues will be waived for the closure period.
- Collie Race Club track is being resurfaced to emulate a similar surface to the current sand track at Bunbury Turf Club and will be available six days per week, subject to demand. Bunbury Turf Club will supervise training and prepare the track each day to ensure an optimum surface is provided for trainers.
- Lark Hill training facility will also be available to Bunbury based trainers during the closure period, where track fees will be waived.
- In recognition of additional costs for trainers to travel to Collie and Lark Hill during the Bunbury closure, a subsidy of $10 per horse per day (up to $80 maximum per trainer day) will be paid to trainers attending Collie and Lark Hill for training.
- Staff at Collie and Lark Hill will check and record daily numbers of horses each trainer brings to the track to work.
Stakeholder Meeting:
- A meeting for trainers and other impacted stakeholders will be held at Bunbury Turf Club at 11am on Tuesday 25 February 2020.
Contact:
Tim Beaver – Manager, Clubs & Training Facilities
Phone: 0413 076 137
Email: tim.beaver@rwwa.com.au