The prospect of a return to racing at Cranbourne hit a major milestone on Thursday, courtesy of a $4 million Victorian Racing Industry Fund commitment from the Victorian government to build a new racetrack.

Works are expected to start in the second half of this year, with a 12 to 18-month construction period required to get greyhound racing back at Cranbourne for the first time since 2022.

The proposed new track will be a one-turn track with a minimum width of 7 meters, promoting less interference and congestion when compared with the old two-turn track, which had a minimum width of 4 metres in some parts.

The track will cater for a large proportion of racing population with 330, 420, 480 and 650-metre distances on offer.

A tender process is yet to begin, but Thursday’s funding commitment from government ensures the project has the backing required to succeed.

“This upgrade will provide a safe and state-of-the-art venue for trainers, greyhounds and participants,” Victorian racing minister Anthony Carbines said.

“The racing industry plays a vital role in the state’s economy, and our investment will back more jobs.”

GRV’s chief executive officer Stuart Laing said the Cranbourne redevelopment would ease the burden on the high percentage of trainers living in the City of Casey.

“The Casey region is home to the largest number of greyhound trainers and second highest number of active greyhounds in Victoria,” Laing said.

“The region is one of the most intensive areas for greyhound training in Australia.

“This investment will ensure that greyhound racing at Cranbourne can thrive with the construction of a new purpose-built track, utilising industry best practice design principles, fostering a vibrant and sustainable future for greyhound racing in Victoria, and provides our participants with the much-needed confidence to continue to invest in the sport.”

Member for Cranbourne Pauline Richards also threw her support behind Thursday’s announcement.

“This is a fantastic result for the racing community in Cranbourne,” Ms Richards said.

“Backing the upgrade will boost our local economy – bringing together racing enthusiasts, friends and families for a great night out.”

Cranbourne Greyhound Racing Club chief executive Andrew Fennell said he was thrilled the project was going ahead.

“We thank the Victorian Government for its significant investment to upgrade the greyhound racetrack here at Cranbourne,” he said.

“We know the upgraded track will be of significant benefit to trainers, ensuring the continued safety of our racing animals and trainers, while ensuring an enjoyable experience for patrons for years to come.”

In 2021, the Cranbourne Greyhound Racing Club (CGRC) conducted 89 race meetings, involving 1,318 active participants and distributing over $4 million in prizemoney and returns.  

Greyhound Racing is responsible for creating an economic impact of $36.9 million for the City of Casey.

This activity supports 282 full time equivalent jobs in the region and generates $21 million in household income.

Greyhound racing in Victoria provides an annual economic contribution of $844.8 million to the state’s economy.