Terang warms up for stables development

Terang Harness Racing Club is hot to trot on its $1.7 million undercover stabling complex, after confirmation of funding for the long-awaited infrastructure development.

And any trainer, driver or industry participant who’s experienced a wet and windy winter night in the open stables at Terang would no doubt also give a wholehearted (and warm!) welcome to the project.

Daytime temperatures in the picturesque southwest Victorian region regularly fall short of the double digits, and as one of the wettest and windiest track locations in the State, club manager Mark Roberts reckons they made a pretty strong case.

“We’re absolutely rapt that it’s finally happening, after quite a few years work. It’ll just make it so much more comfortable for participants, and hopefully draw a few more to consider coming to our meetings,” Roberts said.

“We held meetings right through COVID-19, one of eight clubs across the State who did, and I think a lot more people became aware that we were here, and what a great little club and track we are.

“Hopefully this infrastructure development will put us in a strong position to build on the 12 meetings that we currently have each year.”

Committee member and local trainer Peter Craven said the club had been fortunate to have its track upgraded several years ago, but the latest development would address occupational health and safety issues that were a long-term concern for participants.

“The facilities are probably around 70 years old, a lot of them, and we were really only one accident away from being shut down, so from that respect, it’s very good to get it off the ground,” Craven said.

“As everyone knows our weather in the winter is also not the best so that’s another win situation and there’s also the community benefit aspect of it, with the plan for a community hub.”

Craven said the support of local Federal MP Dan Tehan, Victorian Racing Minister Martin Pakula and Harness Racing Victoria were invaluable and deeply appreciated in obtaining the project funds.

But securing a State Government contribution of $730,000 was due, in no small part, to the efforts of an energetic Terang Owners and Trainers Group.

“They say nothing works harder than self-interest, and the Owners and Trainers certainly did a huge job!  Their fundraising nights, raffles, silent auctions and everything else put together a substantial amount (more than $300,000) and we wouldn’t have got across the line without it,” Roberts said.

“We’ve been able to use that to draw contributions from the Corangamite Shire, the Federal Government and Harness Racing Victoria, and of course, the club itself is making a contribution as well.”

The build is expected to take between 16 and 18 weeks from start to finish, depending on weather.

“We’ve engaged a local builder, GreenCon Australia, and we’re just going back over pricing to update everything.  Of course, at the moment, there’s a bit of difficulty in sourcing supplies of some materials, but we’ll be getting going as soon as we can,” Roberts said.

He said harness racing had a strong local history and continued to be an important industry in the region.

“We’ve got about 70 trainers, from big professional trainers to small one-and two-horse trainers, and the work we did preparing our funding submission found the industry generates $17.7 million in economic activity annually for the region.

“Harness racing employs the equivalent of 880 people here – that’s professional trainers and drivers, stable hands and the like, but also indirectly, people in support industries, like feed stores, veterinary services and saddlery retailers.

“People often don’t realise how strong the sport is down here, but we’ve got a great mix of the bigger professional trainers, and the smaller hobby trainers, and this will give us the infrastructure support we need to keep growing into the future.”

By Terry Gange for Harnesslink