Council will consider the sale of the Moruya Racecourse to Racing NSW following a 28-day at next Tuesday's ordinary Council meeting following a public notification period that closed on 11 September 2019.
In the report to councillors In late 2015, Racing NSW approached Council enquiring whether Council would consider the sale of the racecourse. Ongoing negotiations with Racing NSW have been periodically occurring and a potentially acceptable price was recently proposed.
It is understood that the sale price will be in the area of $1.3 to $1.5m however the final price will remain unknown to the Eurobodalla community as Racing NSW has confirmed that it wishes the sale price to be confidential, so it remains commercial in confidence.
The money from the sale will most likely be injected into the Mackay Park Leisure Centre project in Batemans Bay that is already expected to cost an additional $10m above the $51m the project has from State and Federal grants. Added to this shortfall will be the proposed sale of the Batemans Bay Community Centre.
Responding to concerns of the long term retention of the racecourse Racing NSW has confirmed in writing its intention that the land will continue to be used indefinitely for the purposes of Thoroughbred Racing and leased to the MJC for those purposes.
In addition, the MJC has had numerous meetings with Racing NSW about its future intentions for the racecourse. A link to Racing NSW’s Strategic Plan is included in this report which shows the strategic importance of developing racecourse infrastructure to Racing NSW
The community are however reminded that any land can be rezoned in the future and such requests would come to Council for consideration.
Council staff are advising the Councillors that "Given the level of community support and the likely benefits of the sale to local employment in the racing industry, it is considered appropriate for Council to endorse the sale of the Moruya Racecourse to Racing NSW."
