Cessnock Council will continue to push for Newcastle Harness Racing Club to move to Cessnock after a “positive” meeting with various stakeholders last week.

Councillor Jay Suvaal raised the idea back in June to write to the NSW Government about relocating the Newcastle Paceway to Cessnock.

The idea came about after plans were unveiled for the Hunter Sports & Entertainment Precinct at Broadmeadow, which did not include space for harness racing.

Cr Suvaal, mayor Bob Pynsent and council representatives met with government and harness racing delegates to discuss the matter on Friday.

Cr Pynsent spoke about the meeting in a mayoral minute on Wednesday night.

“Council’s position was very well received with comments from the agencies in attendance being summarised as ‘positive’,” the mayoral minute report said.

“It is critical that council leverage the positive momentum in this matter… [and] ensure Cessnock City LGA is seen as an attractive, viable and logical area for relocation of the Newcastle Harness Racing Club.”

Cr Pynsent said Cessnock’s proximity to the Hunter Expressway was one of the strongest points raised at the meeting.

He said about 40 per cent of entries at the Newcastle club came from Sydney.

“If there was a position near the Hunter Expressway those people will save 15-20 minutes in travel and that was just so positive to attracting harness racing to this area,” he said.

Council will now make a submission to Venues NSW’s ‘Vision for the Hunter Sports & Entertainment Precinct’ plan, to support the relocation of the Newcastle club to Cessnock.

Cr Suvaal encouraged the public to also make submissions to Venues NSW during the exhibition period.

To have your say visit www.venuesnsw.com/conceptplanfeedback.

The story Harness plan races ahead first appeared on The Advertiser – Cessnock.

By Sage Swinton

Reprinted with permission of The Newcastle Herald