HARNESS Racing NSW's (HRNSW) proposed new $6 million facility at North Wagga has come under fire from the suburb's residents' association, which has lodged an official objection to its development application.
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The plans for the project, which is slated for a 100-acre site on the North Wagga floodplain off Hampden Avenue, was on public display earlier this month and is currently being assessed by Wagga City Council staff.
The North Wagga Residents Association has expressed concerns on the impact the new facility will have on the area's floodplain, believing its flood mitigation barriers might exacerbate inundation elsewhere in the suburb.
Association president Laurie Blowes has called for a meeting between North Wagga residents, HRNSW and Wagga City Council to clear the air in relation to the development.
Mr Blowes said the association wasn't necessarily opposed to the development, so long as it didn't come at the expense of North Wagga residents.
"I'm all for progress, but not at the expense of North Wagga residents," he said.
HRNSW chief executive John Dumesny plans to visit Wagga on November 17 and, along with a delegation from the organisation, meet with concerned residents.
Wagga Harness Racing Club chief executive Graeme White, who has already met with Mr Blowes and a number of other residents, said both racing bodies were mindful of the need to keep the community in the loop.
"We'll consult with the residents and any issues they've got, they can raise it at that meeting," he said.
"We're all for open discussion, as we have been up to this stage."
Mr Dumesny said HRNSW hoped to work with the community, and wouldn't build a facility that would adversely impact the suburb's residents.
"We're there to create something beneficial to the harness racing community and the community of Wagga - and that includes our neighbours," he said.
The new facility, which will become the home of harness racing in the Riverina, will be designed with more than just the sport in mind, with plans to have it double up as a function centre.Other concerns raised by the residents' association in its letter to council include zoning issues and a lack of information about lighting, sound, traffic, and frequency of racing meetings.
Mr Blowes is worried the development may be rushed through by council without having those issues addressed.
"It reeks of being rushed through and probably in the hope there won't be too many hurdles," he said.
"I believe as residents, we're entitled to know."
Once council officers have finished assessing the development application, the proposal will be put to a council Policy and Strategy Committee meeting, where members of the community will be able to voice their support or concerns regarding the facility.
