Did you know that Ipswich may soon have its own greyhound breeding and training ground near the Greater Brisbane Greyhound Centre?
DA 2129/2023/MCU, filed on 6 March 2023, calls for the creation of an intensive animal husbandry and training facility at 763 Ipswich Boonah Road, where litters of greyhound dogs will be trained for racing. The plans indicate a sprinting track, exercise yards, medical facilities and on-site residence for the trainers and staff.
Greyhound trainer Ned Snow and fellow trainer and former Capalaba Racing Club president John Catton are behind the proposal to turn a 56-acre property in Purga into a breeding and training ground.
The facility will be built near the Greater Brisbane Greyhound Centre.
About the Greater Brisbane Greyhound Centre
In September 2022, Steve Miles, the Minister of Minister for State Development, Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning, gave his nod to the $40-million Greater Brisbane Greyhound Centre.
“The GBGC will feature three tracks – a straight track, a one-turn track and a two-turn track – with the health and safety of greyhounds at the heart of design and construction,” Mr Miles said.
“Racing Queensland is engaging with experts in track design and injury prevention in order to build a Centre that is as safe for dogs and trainers as possible.
“Design features like appropriate radius and surface banking, air-conditioned kennels and world-class racing surfaces will be incorporated to achieve this.
“There will also be a veterinarian clinic on-site to provide quality care for greyhounds.
“Racing at the Centre will be broadcast to 60 nations around the world, putting the industry in Queensland on show to a global audience.
“The community will also benefit from the construction of a multipurpose function centre that will be incorporated in the Centre’s design.”
However, more than 70,000 locals supported a petition opposing the centre.
“The proposed location contains core habitat for threatened species such as koalas and grey-headed flying foxes and is close to culturally significant areas and artifacts that are sacred to First Nations people,” the petition cited.
“The Greater Brisbane Greyhound Centre will cost close to $40 million, money which is coming directly from the state government. There are so many ways to spend $40 million in Ipswich which would benefit the community as a whole. This investment will result in the exploitation, injury and death of many greyhounds and will contribute to gambling and binge drinking.”
First announced in 2019 by the State Government, the construction of the facility started in February 2023.
Despite the strong objections, the State Government said that the racing complex is expected to boost the economy of Brisbane and Ipswich once the racing site is operational. It will support over a thousand full-time roles to ensure the highest standards of care are provided to the racing animals. The greyhound racing industry in Australia is a billion-dollar industry generating $4 billion a year.
Published 27 March 2023