After at least 150 years of the racing industry’s supremacy over the community, nothing much appears to have changed with the newly announced lease signing and the appointment of the new trustees.
Much is still unclear, but the following questions need answering:
- Will the community be privy to the fine print of the lease agreement? Is the removal of training binding in this agreement?
- Will the trustees publish a map that clearly outlines the land under the lease and which is freehold land?
- How was the figure of $300,000+ per annum arrived at when previous evaluations were in the million dollar range? Why is the MRC, with its vast resources, being given literally a peppercorn rental and will this rental apply only until the removal of training or for the duration of the 65 year lease?
- Will the introduction of night racing mean more racing events? How will these events impact on the local community?
- Can residents expect residential development on the freehold land?
- Will light towers now predominate across vast areas of crown land?
- Will a new track mean further encroachment onto public open space and the further proliferation of lego land – ie white fences?
Despite the work of the various spin doctors we do not see this as anything else apart from another victory for the Melbourne Racing Club! A couple of soccer pitches do not warrant this buckling at the knees!
Glen Eira Debates 
October 22, 2018 at 6:29 PM
When Lily D’Ambrosio published her work of fiction on 30 June I think we all knew what was coming. That announcement, of the members of a “new” dependent body to manage the Caulfield Racecourse Reserve at the direction of the Minister, made clear that there was to be no community representation. And under the governing Act, there was to be no transparency, accountability, or public Minutes. The body doesn’t have a business plan, hasn’t explained why it has so devalued the land, but believes 65 years is an appropriate length of time to exclude the public from an unknown chunk of the reserve. All this at the same time as interest in racing keeps dwindling.
October 22, 2018 at 8:48 PM
Don’t forget the multi-millions that this and previous governments are handing over to racing interests throughout Victoria. Gambling is very profitable for gov plus the free booze and memberships mps and councillors get.
October 22, 2018 at 11:37 PM
Night racing track
lease of guineas car park etc and new night racing treack (even though Cranbourne and Moonee Valley also conduct night meetings.)
and grandstand area for lifelong lease
Wouldn’t that lease constitute one third of area full time therefore no more apart from less race days.
erantal low for the product MRC laughing all the way to the bank or to the real estate agent to enquire about adding to its 1,00 poker machines
October 23, 2018 at 11:45 AM
Shame Trustees, shame. A shocking outcome for the community. MRC = Magnificent Revenue Collection. Super cheap rent, government grants galore, and no community representation what so ever. Maybe our grandchildren will take up the fight again in 65 years, when the lease is up.
October 23, 2018 at 5:25 PM
The trainers have been put on notice that they are to be out by 2023. Probably the biggest single employers in the City of Glen Eira. Not counting the Monash Immigration Centre (AKA Monash Uni). Some of that land should be available for public use.
October 23, 2018 at 8:19 PM
That any trainer is the biggest single employer in the City of Glen Eira is highly improbable. Would they be in “Professional, scientific and technical services” category that ABS data claims is the leading employment category from the 2011 Census?
October 23, 2018 at 9:02 PM
Collectively there are more than 200 people working full time at the race track just doing training functions. The ground staff are employed by the MRC. They will all stay of course. Tell me another business that employs that many people in Glen Eira. They will be re-located to Cranbourne at the Gov. expense. Some may go to Pakenham.
October 23, 2018 at 9:39 PM
“Collectively”? So you want to know industry groupings that collectively employ more than 200 people in Glen Eira? Or is it the single biggest employer you want to know? Or what the growth areas for future employment are likely to be? I doubt it should be up to private individuals to provide you with this information, and would in any case be a waste of time.
October 24, 2018 at 4:51 PM
They are going to have a “consultation” session on the 13th of Dec. I’ve had 10 years of “consultation” and they haven’t listened to a thing the community says. If I go to another “consultation” I’ll have to make a claim for RSI. Meanwhile, the Caulfield Village development continues apace, with the trees on Smith St awaiting the chainsaw 😦
October 25, 2018 at 12:25 PM
According to the description, it’s not a consultation, merely an “information session”, at which we can hear about the latest developments [65-year leases without a masterplan, expansion of racedays into racenights?], and maybe ask questions. If there’s a hung parliament or a change of government, we may have a different Minister to provide directions to this far-from-independent body.
October 26, 2018 at 9:51 PM
Thanks for clarifying. We can go and get told what’s going to happen after all these years.