Rural land eyed up for potential relocation of Hastings racecourse

Might Hastings’ historic racecourse be seeking to transfer to a pleasant place within the nation?

The 32-hectare racecourse is on a web site it has occupied since 1878. It’s close to the centre of Hastings and is prime land for residential improvement – a truth well-known by Hastings District Council which is eager to see the residentially zoned land utilized in one of the simplest ways for its neighborhood.

That, mixed with the truth that the ageing earthquake-prone buildings on the location can be massively expensive to improve, has – for some years now – had Hawke’s Bay Racing Integrated taking a look at choices for the longer term.

A decade in the past it appeared into transferring the course to a brand new purpose-built facility close to the Hawke’s Bay Showgrounds, however that got here to naught.

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Now the organisation is contemplating relocating the racecourse to what’s presently horticultural land, just a few kilometres southwest of the town.

The organisation paid $3.9 million for a 14ha block of land on Railway Street early final 12 months and has been busy searching for different adjoining properties that is perhaps out there.

HB Racing Inc. chief govt Aaron Hamilton didn’t wish to remark when contacted this week, however the organisation’s concerns have been outlined by president Eliot Cooper on the membership’s annual assembly in November.

The site occupied by the Hastings racecourse would be a prime residential area.

Marty Sharpe/Stuff

The location occupied by the Hastings racecourse can be a chief residential space.

Cooper mentioned the Railway Street block had been bought to make sure the membership had choices going ahead.

He mentioned the council was eager to see the racecourse property bought, however that Hawke’s Bay Racing remained dedicated to making sure that it might create a plan that may ship on a long-term technique.

A 14ha block of land southwest of Hastings purchased by Hawke's Bay Racing Inc.

Marty Sharpe/Stuff

A 14ha block of land southwest of Hastings bought by Hawke’s Bay Racing Inc.

He mentioned at the least 40ha was wanted to construct a brand new racecourse on and the membership had been attempting to barter with the house owners of neighbouring properties to the Railway Street block.

He estimated the price of constructing a brand new racecourse on a greenfield web site can be $40m, primarily based on the current improvement of a racecourse at Murray Bridge in South Australia.

“The placement of the membership is just not a choice to hurry into or make evenly, subsequently the land acquisition on Railway Street is certainly one of many avenues we’re exploring,” Cooper mentioned.

A possible hurdle for the membership is more likely to be gaining approval to construct on productive land, recognised by the council as being inside its Plains Productive Zone. That is land recognised for its productive worth, which the council considers essential to the longer term wellbeing of the district.

The racecourse’s ageing earthquake-prone buildings would be hugely costly to upgrade.

Marty Sharpe/Stuff

The racecourse’s ageing earthquake-prone buildings can be massively expensive to improve.

The Nationwide Coverage Assertion for Extremely Productive Land which got here into impact in October might also show troublesome for the race membership. The coverage enhances safety for extremely productive land from inappropriate subdivision, use, and improvement.

Hastings District Council chief govt Nigel Bickle mentioned the council had no intention of shopping for the racecourse land however “has been concerned in discussions with the membership on its plans, with a view to attempting to make sure that any potential future improvement plans for the land (zoned residential) supplies one of the best consequence for the Hastings neighborhood within the long-term”.

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“Whereas Council is advocating on behalf of the neighborhood and has facilitated conversations between probably events, the disposal of the land (and subsequently the client) is for the membership resolve,” he mentioned.

Bickle mentioned the racing membership knew there can be planning processes, together with the Nationwide Coverage Assertion, that might have to be thought of.

“Council has a long-standing view that the district (and wider area’s) premier rising land ought to be protected for meals manufacturing. We’re conscious that the membership is having its bought land analysed to evaluate its productiveness values,” he mentioned

“The regulatory planning processes can be dealt with within the normal method,” Bickle mentioned