The $150 million redevelopment of Randwick Racecourse will begin in January while work at Warwick Farm is a step closer after Liverpool City Council approved the rezoning of parcels of land at the precinct.
The Australian Turf Club has contracted Brookfield Multiplex to carry out construction at Randwick with the main grandstand and 4500-seat horse viewing area to be known as the Theatre of the Horse the first to be built.
Since the last race meeting in early November, preparation for construction has been underway with the relocation and storage of the infrastructure in the Queen Elizabeth and Paddock Stands.
Horses will parade in the Theatre of the Horse before entering a tunnel under the new stand and moving on to the course proper.
The new facilities have also been designed to cater for multi-use non-race day functions and will include a 1000-seat ballroom which will double as corporate suites on a race day.
In addition, the new facilities will include a Chairman’s Lounge, corporate suites and boxes, new betting auditorium, members dining facilities, young members bar and high-end members cocktail lounge.
Although construction will be ongoing, the ATC is confident enough work will be done to enable the 2012 autumn carnival to held at Randwick with facilities fully operational by the following year.
ATC chief executive Darren Pearce said pre-sales for the next autumn carnival were already strong.
Work is also scheduled to begin at Rosehill Racecourse financed by a $24 million government grant given on the successful merger of the two former Sydney race clubs.
The money for Rosehill will be spent on improvements to access routes to the course and the track will also have the biggest on-field screen in the southern hemisphere.
The rezoning of land at Warwick Farm had been held up pending the hearing of objections from residents’ groups at a meeting of Liverpool City Council on Monday night.
AAP TURF
