Closure looms for Marong track

A Central Victorian harness racing club says it will consider its options to appeal a decision that will effectively shut down its training base of nearly 50 years.

Greater Bendigo City Councillors voted unanimously last night to adopt a new recreational Masterplan for Malone Park at Marong, meaning the club’s trotting track will be lost in favor of development of other sporting facilities.

The Marong Light Harness Club has stridently opposed the plan, arguing a compromise that would allow the development of football ovals within the trotting track site was more appropriate.

However, all nine councillors voted in favor of the Masterplan, in line with the recommendation of the Council officers.

MLCH President Wally Newton said he was disappointed, but not surprised by the decision.

“During the community consultation process nearly half the submissions the council received were opposed to us being removed,” Mr Newton said.

“But I don’t think there’s any surprise to the eventual outcome – it was pretty clear to us that the Council’s mind was made up,” he said.

“We’ll look at our options now and look at whether we have an opportunity to appeal to VCAT, and if Harness Racing Victoria will support us in that.”

The 43-hectare Malone Park sports precinct plan earmarks the site currently occupied by the trotting track for the equivalent of two extra football grounds, and now compels the council to look at an alternative venue for equestrian use.

The Council has suggested a preference for combining the Marong Club with another training facility at Sebastian, 20 minutes north, but made no recommendation or decision on that issue.

Mr Newton said Sebastian wasn’t a viable option for most Marong users.

“The Sebastian group isn’t interested in developing their facilities to the extent that we have here, and they don’t want to run trials as we do for six months of the year,” he said.

“Our facility is used every day of the year, not just during the summer trials season, so it’s not just the loss of the trials, it will leave a number of trainers without any option for their day-to-day training.”

No timeline for closing the trotting track was mandated, but the club has warned its future is in doubt if it is forced to move.

by Terry Gange, for Harnesslink