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.