FOLLOWING its meeting on Monday, March 21, 2011, Racing Queensland Limited has invoked its power under the Racing Act 2002 (QLD) to suspend the licence of the Bundaberg Race Club and to issue a Show Cause Notice and Control Body Direction to the Club in relation to concerns regarding its current financial position and ongoing viability.

The Bundaberg Race Club now has 28 days to Show Cause why its license should not be cancelled.

Racing Queensland Limited is conscious that a number of internal issues exist in Bundaberg and that these require urgent attention by the management committee and membership of the Club. Racing Queensland Limited is looking to all members of the Club to resolve these issues to ensure a unified approach is taken to address the Show Cause Notice within the specified period.

The Bundaberg complex provides facilities for both thoroughbred and greyhound racing and it is important that this infrastructure can be suitably maintained into the future. Ideally, a consolidated venue management model has the potential to deliver significant efficiencies to both codes and a united approach to the provision of racing product in Bundaberg, may assist in developing a sustainable model into the future.

Although Racing Queensland Limited will not interfere with the local constitutional issues of the Bundaberg Race Club, the board of Racing Queensland Limited is willing to facilitate a meeting with all the relevant parties to discuss a revised business model for the Bundaberg facility should there be a desire for this to occur by both the thoroughbred and greyhound clubs.

It is important that stakeholders understand that thoroughbred racing in Bundaberg has ceased effectively immediately and will not resume until a resolution to this issue is achieved. Racing Queensland Limited has left a decision regarding the provision of training facilities up to the Bundaberg Race Club and local stakeholders are encouraged to contact the Club to determine if these privileges will continue.

 

SAME LICENSE SUSPENSION APPLIED TO CAPALABE GREYHOUND CLUB

FOLLOWING its meeting on Monday, March 21, 2011, Racing Queensland Limited has invoked its power under the Racing Act 2002 (QLD) to suspend the licence of the Capalaba Greyhound Racing Club and to issue a Show Cause Notice and a Control Body Direction to the Club in relation to concerns regarding its current financial position and ongoing viability.

The Capalaba Greyhound Racing Club now has 28 days to Show Cause why its licence should not be cancelled.

Although Racing Queensland Limited has suspended the licence of the Capalaba Greyhound Racing Club to conduct race meetings until the finalisation of the Show Cause Notice, Racing Queensland Limited has acceded to a request from the Club to permit it to continue to provide trailing facilities.

The president of the Capalaba Greyhound Racing Club, Mr Alec Stevens, has made a commitment to discuss this issue with his executive committee prior to organising another meeting with Racing Queensland Limited to discuss a number of alternatives that he hopes will ensure this vital racing and trialling facility can be maintained into the future.

Racing Queensland Limited was buoyed by the response of the Capalaba Greyhound Racing Club in relation to this issue and looks forward to working with the Club to successfully resolve this issue.

It is important that stakeholders understand that racing at Capalaba has ceased effectively immediately and will not resume until a resolution to this issue is achieved.

 

RACING QUEENSLAND MEDIA RELEASE