Work on the $4.6 million rebuild of the Grafton is underway and progressing well, with the new race track already taking shape.
Described by Greyhound Racing NSW (GRNSW) Chief Executive Officer Tony Mestrov at the time of its announcement last year as one of the most significant track infrastructure funding announcements in NSW history, the Grafton track is on schedule to be completed by late April.
The Grafton track had been built in the 1940s, and a rebuilt was required to bring the track up to the latest Design and Construction Minimum Standards with wider turn radius, improved track cambers and transitions and strategically placed starting positions to provide a safer transit for greyhounds.
The Grafton rebuild is the first new greyhound track built in many decades and the project is the largest to be funded by the Government’s $30 million, five-year Greyhound Racing Capital Grants Program to improve safety and boost animal welfare standards at racetracks across the state.
“Initial delays with Council and Crown Lands, and more recently with rain, have posed challenges for the team and our contractors, but all work is now progressing well, with the contractors shaping the new greyhound track over the last couple of weeks,” GRNSW’s General Manager of Tracks & Infrastructure, David Aldred said.
“We are also getting ready to build the new kennels and undertake all the trenching for power. With some clear running we should see the project progress very quickly over the next few weeks.
“It’s a big project, the biggest we have undertaken and the track design and the technology the most advanced. At GRNSW, we are looking forward to seeing the finished result as much as the participants are.”
Among the features of the new track are: the latest technology in starting box design and presentation; latest technology in lure and lure rail design with the installation of a Safe Chase lure system; latest technology in track lighting design with full LED lighting of the oval track; FinishLynx Timing System and Timing and message display boards; and all safety aids will be installed in accordance with the Track Safety Standards, including safety rails and protective fence and catching pen safety padding.
The new track will be irrigated with a fully automatic sprinkler irrigation system to ensure the correct moisture levels are maintained in the track at all times.
A control room upgrade will be done in the grandstand to accommodate, race video, judge, lure driver and race broadcaster.
The kennel design will also be state of the art to rival the best greyhound on track facilities in the country and will be built to the new Minimum Standards for Facilities and Amenities, featuring: 12 Air-conditioned race bays, air conditioned Welfare and Integrity rooms, the latest light and security systems, and state of the art kennel parking.
GRNSW will continue to keep participants updated on the Grafton rebuild on our social and website platforms in coming months.
