Murrumbidgee Turf Club is closer to creating at least 30 new jobs by expanding its Wagga stables as a result of a council decision on Monday night.
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Councillors present unanimously approved consent to an application to NSW Crown Lands by the club for an adjustment to the boundary between the Wagga Cricket Ground Reserve and Wagga Wagga Racecourse Reserve.
Turf Club president Stuart Lamont said in a public deposition to councillors that the boundary change would enable a new development.
“It’s an area that the Murrumbidgee Turf Club has been maintaining for up to 150 years, we’re not sure,” he said.
“The boundary fence that has been there has certainly been there for 40 years.
“We are in the process of wanting to build a stable complex with the grounds of the turf club.”
Mr Lamont said NSW’s increase in racing prizemoney had created a “great opportunity to grow”.
“Our biggest impediment is that we do not have enough stabling to really grow,” he said.
“We are having a lot of interest from interstate and even overseas people wanting to come and set up in Wagga.
“We think we would be able to create at least 30 full-time positions with this proposal, therefore I think it would be a great asset to the city and put the Murrumbidgee Turf Club well above any other country racing centre.”
The club approached council on July 6 for consent to apply to Crown Lands though the NSW Department of Industry.
“The proposed adjustment will reflect the position of the existing fence line around the former Raceview tennis courts and will reduce the size of the Wagga Cricket Ground reserve by approximately 1989 square metres,” a council report stated.
“In particular, the portion of land will facilitate access to the proposed development from Beckwith Street.”
In March 2011, councillors granted a no-fee licence to the Director General of the Department of Premier and Cabinet for an air monitoring station on the land in question.
“This agreement will transfer to the Murrumbidgee Turf Club under the provisions of the Crown Land Management Act if the boundary adjustment proposal is approved by Crown Lands,” a council report stated.
Councillor Tim Koschel and deputy mayor Dallas Tout were apologies for the meeting.