By Lia Bichel
Cranbourne Turf Club’s CEO Neil Bainbridge is impressed with the club’s water-saving efforts. 28673
THE Cranbourne Turf Club has raced ahead of other Victorian racing venues with its water-saving efforts.
Over the past year, the club has reduced its annual water bill by tens of thousands of dollars and has reduced its potable water consumption by 98 per cent.
“Cranbourne Turf Club’s strategy to reduce its reliance on mains water and improve on-site water efficiency has focused on constructing a 25-million-litre storage dam, installing an automatic irrigation system, using Class A recycled water and altering the way water is applied,” South East Water key customer relations manager Glenn Goldsmith said.
The club worked with South East Water to help develop water saving strategies.
The new storage dam collects rainwater run-off from nearby car parks and buildings, supplemented by Class A recycled water from the Carrum Downs treatment plant using the eastern irrigation system.
“With the new measures in place, the Cranbourne Turf Club is now drought-proof and no longer reliant on mains water,” Cranbourne Turf Club’s Chief Executive Neil Bainbridge said.
Although the project was assisted by a grant of $250,000 from the Smart Water Fund, it was still pricey.
The dam and irrigation system cost $1.2 million, but Mr Bainbridge said the club would benefit in the long term by the sustainability of the turf club and the significantly reduced water bills.
The club has since saved 60 million litres of water and has reduced its annual water bill from $57,322 to $1016.
“It was certainly costly, but it’s been a wonderful choice for the club and for the community,” Mr Bainbridge said.
“There is no question that this is the best the club has looked. The track and surrounds look outstanding, which we anticipate will have a significant effect on providing more entertainment to the community.”
Mr Bainbridge said he hoped the improvements would attract more people to the Cranbourne Turf Club, which is home to 160 race meetings a year and also used for weddings, birthdays and other functions.
He said he also hoped other racing venues would follow in the club’s footsteps.
“We hope our actions will be followed and adopted by racing clubs across Victoria,” he said.
