All-weather track racing will return to the Sunshine Coast with a $7 million replacement of its synthetic track.
The Caloundra complex now caters for 400 horses and two of the state’s top five trainers are based there.
The current synthetic track is 12 years old and is in urgent need of an upgrade.
The new synthetic track will be able to stand up to a heavier workload than is possible on turf tracks, as it is can deal with too much water or not enough.
Racing Queensland hopes it will be able to reschedule more meetings when renovations are being undertaken at other tracks, or when meetings might otherwise be abandoned because of weather.
Sunshine Coast Turf Club chairman Peter Boyce said the new track would give the club a point of difference from other venues.
“We have 400 horses using the track every day, so this is funding for an essential upgrade and most appreciated,” he said.
“The surface needs to be replaced urgently. It’s a racing track as well as a training track so all participants will benefit from it.
“The important thing is that it’s not just a track for us – it’s a track for the industry.”