Right: Cranbourne Turf Club chairman Robin Daley and Cranbourne MP Jude Perera discuss exciting changes to the Cranbourne Racing Centre.
CRANBOURNE MP Jude Perera says he will lobby for the State Government to commit $20 million for major upgrades to the Cranbourne Training Centre.
As reported in the News last month, Racing Victoria Limited revealed the Cranbourne Training Centre would receive a mammoth upgrade, with new grass tracks and lights to be installed.
Race meets will be doubled from 22 to 42 a year and after August 2011 meets will be relocated from the current Cranbourne Turf Club site to the training centre. It is anticipated the upgrade will inject $200 million annually into the local economy and create up to 400 jobs.
Mr Perera said the plan would develop a world-class equine precinct in Casey. “I am right behind this initiative for Cranbourne. I take my hat off to the club’s committee and to the executive who have certainly got vision,” he said.
“I will be lobbying for a commitment from the Brumby Labor Government of about $20 million to make this dream become a reality.”
Cranbourne Turf Club chief executive Neil Bainbridge said the club now had to hold up its end of the bargain by developing state-of-the art customer facilities at the training centre.
He estimated it needed to raise about $5 million to do so.
“There is a significant amount of work that needs to be done but it is a very exciting future,” Mr Bainbridge said.
