The Newcastle Jockey Club’s proposal for a regional pre-training centre to be developed at Cessnock Racecourse has received support from Cessnock City Council.
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The NJC floated the idea of Cessnock as a potential site for such a facility last year, when Racing NSW was using industry forums to identify key issues and priorities for its strategic plan (which is set to be released in August).
In a mayoral minute that was passed at Wednesday’s meeting, Cessnock mayor Bob Pynsent moved that council write to Minister for Racing Paul Toole to outline its support for the facility.
Cr Pynsent said the pre-training centre was an exciting concept for Cessnock.
“I believe it prudent that council show leadership by illustrating its support for the NJC proposal, which has the potential to create jobs in the Cessnock LGA,” he said.
“It could involve 300 stables, and a lot of employment. It would just be fantastic.
“As a council we should be supporting the NJC and hope it is included in Racing NSW’s strategic plan.”
The Cessnock course’s size and location made it ideal for the redevelopment, the jockey club’s CEO Matt Benson told Fairfax Media earlier this month.
“The position is perfect, the local support would be great and the facility is made for it,” he said.
“Cessnock is a wonderful blank canvas, a big space and there’s a huge amount of options and flexibility.”
