Racing Tauranga has been boosted by the community's support for the sport despite a delay to decide its future in the city.
Tauranga City Council has delayed hearing submissions on the future of the Tauranga Racecourse Reserve until early next year because of issues raised by the community.
The council says the issues include: sites for a potential relocation of the racecourse and equestrian facilities; opening up the golf course for increased community use and safe access to the Kōpurererua Valley; and clarifying the potential for health services on the site.
Racing Tauranga chairman Carl McComb told Local Democracy Reporting the organisation is 'comfortable” with the delay as long there is a 'positive outcome”.
'We've stated that our preference is to remain on the reserve.”
Through the Greerton Maarawaewae Study, council sought feedback on the final three options it proposed for use of the 85 hectares of crown land that is currently leased by Racing Tauranga and the Tauranga Golf Club.
Council was clear about its preferred option of using the racecourse land for a health precinct and central park.
The second option was converting the land to a central park and the third was enhanced status quo that added sports and recreation facilities while the racecourse remained. The golf course was unaffected by any of the options.
A total of 897 submissions were received with 548 of those in favour in of the enhanced status quo.
Carl says Racing Tauranga is thankful for the support and a 'major contributing factor” for the support is people are 'quite protective” about retaining green space.
'We've always been open to increasing the community use of the venue.”
Racing Tauranga is also taking part in a working group with Racing Rotorua the Western Bay of Plenty District Council, Rotorua Council and Tauranga City Council led by New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing.
The group is looking at potential sites for a sub-regional horse racing facility.
Carl says the work needs to be completed before decision can be made and this will likely be in the 'immediate future”.
Commission chair Anne Tolley says work to clarify outstanding issues has caused the delay.
'Originally the hearings were supposed to take place in November, followed by deliberations and a decision by the commission in December.
'It's vital that these issues are fully explored before a decision is made so that we can make a fair and robust recommendation to the Crown around the future use of the Tauranga Racecourse Reserve.”
-Public Interest Journalism funded through NZ On Air.
