Murrumbidgee Turf Club hopeful of Wagga City Council approval for $6.8 million dollar stable complex

The MTC is eager to gain approval for a $6.8 million site, which will cater for 125 horses, on the Beckwith Street side of the racecourse, believing it will pave the way for a valuable investment in the city.

Council's staff report recommending approval of the development application will be presented at the Wagga City Council meeting on Monday.

"It is important, we think, for both the club and the community," Keene said.

"The complex when it's up and running will create another 40 to 50 jobs in the Wagga community, and the economic impact of having those extra horses trained in Wagga - those horses all need feed and rugs and racing equipment that will all be bought locally so it will be a great boost for the local economy.

"So we're looking forward to getting a positive result on Monday night."

Keene said the MTC has invested more than $100,000 in the project already over the past four years and is confident there's a demand for the stables.

"We've had to turn away trainers because there's simply no boxes available in Wagga," he said.

"We've got the best training facilities between Sydney and Melbourne and trainers want to be able to utilise that but they've got nowhere to house their horses.

"We've already got one trainer that's confirmed who will relocate (if the stables are built) and we're talking to another couple as well. The need is definitely there and it'd be great for the local economy."

Keene said Wagga's good prizemoney and ideal location between Sydney and Melbourne makes it attractive to up-and-coming trainers in metropolitan areas, and would also appeal to many Victorian trainers, when on-site stables are available.

The recommendation that council approve the complex, which will also include a vet clinic, is subject to conditions after 16 written objections to the development.

However the MTC arranged specialist assessment reports on noise, odour, waste management and traffic, which concluded the development "can proceed with acceptable levels of impact subject to certain recommendations relating to the management and operation of the facility" including an environmental management plan.

"The club's definitely very mindful of the community and the local residents and hence procedures will be put in place to make sure the impact on them is kept to an absolute minimum. We're confident this will happen," Keene said.

"The club's managing ok (in a COVID-19 disrupted year) but it is important for our future. But also the government is looking to spend money on infrastructure and it'd be great to see that money, over $6 million, spent in Wagga."

The MTC hopes to have work start within six months if approval is granted. The next step towards that will be to shore up the funding.

"There's been some great announcements this week in regards to funding for race courses and development. We're very positive that it won't take us too long to have a shovel-ready project, to get some funding and get building underway," Keene said.

"If we can get the first lot built and the first trainer in, then we can keep on developing from there."