By Cam Lucadou-Wells
Greyhound racing at Cranbourne remains in “limbo” more than two years after its track was closed.
The greyhound track at Cranbourne Racecourse was closed in 2022 after a spate of racing dog deaths. The track’s design was regarded as unsafe.
Greyhound Racing Victoria and Cranbourne Greyhound Racing Club have unveiled a $14 million re-design of a new track at the same site but it requires funding.
“A replacement track is required in the region to service the needs of the racing and training program now and in the future, given about 200 trainers operate closer to Cranbourne than any other Victorian greyhound racing club,” a GRV spokesperson said.
“(The cost was) far exceeding the originally anticipated spend for this project.
“Due to current economic challenges, GRV cannot financially support the project at this time.
“However the Cranbourne Greyhound Racing Club – which is currently under GRV administration – is intending to proceed with the project subject to gaining access to sufficient funding.”
A GRV-commissioned report recently investigated greenfield sites for a purpose-built greyhound racing and training facility elsewhere in the South East.
However the site investigations have so far proven unsuccessful or unviable, according to the GRV.
Racing Minister Anthony Carbines said he was awaiting advice from GRV and the CGRC who were considering “several options to reopen the track at Cranbourne”.
“We take animal welfare very seriously and track safety in greyhound racing is a critical part of that.
“This is ultimately a matter for GRV as the regulator, and they know they will have our support to return to racing provided that can be done safely.”
Opposition racing minister Tim Bull criticised Mr Carbines’s “silence” on Cranbourne greyhound racing’s future, with trainers forced to travel long distances to tracks at Sandown and Warragul.
“There is a large population of industry participants in that area who simply want to know what the future holds so they can make decisions about their own operations.
“It is not good enough that after more than two years, the Minister remains silent.
“It is not acceptable for him to simply say ‘it is a matter for Greyhound Racing Victoria’; he needs to show leadership on this issue.
“Without direction, there are growing concerns the government’s inaction might be interpreted as a decision to abandon the sport in this region altogether.”
