Central Queensland race clubs to share $700,000 state government grant

Four Central Queensland race clubs - Blackwater-Bluff Amateur Race Club, Clermont Race Club, Emerald Jockey Club and Yeppoon Turf Club - will share in nearly $700,000 worth of Queensland Government infrastructure grants.

Emerald Jockey Club will receive $470,000 for a new racecourse mower, fertilizing and spraying equipment, an irrigation upgrade and tie-up stalls.

Bluff Blackwater Amateur Race Club will receive nearly $200,000 for a new public address system, perimeter fencing for the horse float area and to refurbish its tie-up stalls.    

Yeppoon Turf Club will receive $40,000 to upgrade its chute and Clermont Race Club, $10,000 for fencing.

Member for Keppel Brittany Lauga notes “Racing is part of our region’s economy as well as community life, especially in some of our smaller and more isolated towns.

“Apart from supporting local clubs and improving facilities for trainers, jockeys, owners and racegoers, these grants will generate work for local tradies in these communities.”

The upgrades are part of $2.8 million worth of grants being distributed state-wide to some of Queensland’s smallest and most remote country race clubs.

Queensland Racing Minister Grace Grace today announced the grants to 37 country clubs from Mareeba in the Far North to Betoota in the south-west.

Minister Grace advised that the State Government’s Country Racing Program provides critical infrastructure funding across Queensland “to improve and enhance our non-TAB racing clubs and their communities.  

“These are some of the state’s smallest and most remote clubs, and importantly, these projects will create work for local tradies and businesses.”

The Queensland Government has committed a total of $105.6 million to country racing over six years.

This includes funds for non-TAB clubs for infrastructure repairs and maintenance projects.  

Minister Grace adds “our Country Racing Program provides security and continuity to the country racing community up to 2023 by funding race meetings, prize money and racing infrastructure, repairs and maintenance.

A full list of grants is available at racingqueensland.com.au/crp

Image of Emerald Jockey Club