The participant numbers must be down to an all time low with very little to be excited about.

It is a big problem for owners breeders and trainers, the GRA seem to be treated as a poor cousin and subsequently the entire Queensland industry is suffering and is destined to hard times for years to come.

I am certain this world wide site has many users/viewers who can offer suggestions to solving problems we are currently experiencing.

There has been a working party set up which is endeavouring to assist in reaching settlement with the Albion park property so as it can move on and be master of it's own destiny divorcing itself from the trots and establishing it's own facility.

Many participants in QLD reside in the Atkinson dam / Churchable West of Brisbane region and i am certain a track could be estabished in this region with a substantial cost saving to the tens of millions being bandied about to establish Logan.

The word i have heard on the street is Albion Park as a site is worth somewhere between 75 and 100 million dollars which the dogs apparently are stakeholders to the tune of 50%. Is this correct?
If so lets cash it and get the ball rolling, if not what is the situation, enough is enough, tell us what we have and don't have and then some of us will work out a solution.

The time has come QLD stakeholders lets use this site to voice our opinions and get our industry moving again!!!

Brian Kutner JR

Your the sort of bloke Queensland needs to wake it from its slumber
why not get some like minded people behind you & start a movement.

Good Luck.

I think the watchdog committee is a step in the right direction but i feel the strength of numbers will be needed to shake a few branches. This forum should be the starting point to attract interested parties and for them to air their views. We will see what happens after that.

Pat, The way this stockmarket thing is going I am becoming less succesful by the day.

BK

I suppose it would be fair to say it was not that long ago QLD was blessed with tracks at ; Parklands, Beenleigh, Toowoomba, Lawnton etc so perhaps the need then, was different to the need now. I think we should try to keep looking forward rather than glancing into the rear vision mirror.

I personally feel our first step in achieving our goal is to find out what we do own, and what are our rights in regard to being involved in the development of Albion Park. It may be a great situation for the dogs, does anyone know what has been offered with regard to the redevelopment? What's in it for us?

The time has come for us to be treated as stakeholders, maybe even equal stakeholders with the harness people? The poor cousin syndrome is being directed to the wrong industry in my opinion. Harness racing has been on the decline Australia wide for years.

We need to know all the facts so as to make our balanced decision.

It seems we are being treated like mushrooms kept in the dark, subsequently when this situation occurs, information not being shared by stakeholders, people become defensive, as we have, in the greyhound industry.

Maybe Albion Park redevelopment is a great outcome, but, until we are included in the dialogue we will naturally be defensive.

The vibe I get is the real winner maybe a couple of individuals rather than the industries. Whoever is making all the proposals and operating the levers show us this is not correct!

BK

Then we can get on with it, the ownership of the Cronulla Park site at Logan will be transferred to the greyhounds, we will receive the $10mill compensation and 50% proceeds from the sale of Albion which should enable us to establish a new complex catering for a City style track together with a big one turn track.

Cronulla Park would be good for the Gold Coast club. Brisbane should come north on their own, and look at the future.

What you have written regarding who owns what, how do you know this for a fact? Dan has also stated we ALL know that, do we?

I am not certain if Albion Park was sold tomorrow for lets say 100 million that the government is going to transfer 50 million each to the dogs and the trots. Are you certain of this?

BK

Ownership of Albion Park Race Way
Tuesday, 1 July 2003:

The transfer of the $23 million Albion Park Raceway to the harness and greyhound racing codes is a milestone for the racing industry in Queensland, Racing Minister Merri Rose said today.

Ms Rose said the transfer of ownership from the Government to joint ownership of the Queensland Harness Racing Board and the Greyhound Racing Authority, effective from today, would provide the two codes with a strong asset base.

Albion Park is the major facility for both codes and the transfer of ownership will give the codes greater control over their destinies, she said.

This is a major transfer of a valuable asset to the racing industry and is a clear signal of the Governments support for an independent and viable industry.

Ms Rose said Albion Park Raceway had been the recipient of considerable racing industry funds.

Albion Park was purchased from the Brisbane Amateur Turf Club in 1982 and redeveloped as the premier harness racing facility in Australia, she said.

The Brisbane Greyhound Racing Club transferred to Albion Park in 1992 as a joint tenant and both the Queensland Harness Racing Board and the Greyhound Racing Authority have been tenants of the facility.

Ms Rose thanked Albion Park Trust Chair Don Davies and his staff for their efficient operation of the raceway and helping facilitate the transfer of the complex.

The professionalism shown by the Trust is a credit to the Trust and its staff, she said.

Queensland Harness Racing Board Chair Keith Hamburger and Greyhound Racing Authority Chair Phil Bennett welcomed the transfer.

This is a major asset for both codes and allows us to better control the future direction of both codes, Mr Hamburger said.

Mr Bennett said the raceway was probably the most utilised racetrack in Australia and the ownership by the two codes would ensure that this would continue. It also presented an opportunity for the two codes to secure their futures.

ALBION PARK RACEWAY OVERVIEW

History
Albion Park had been used for gallops racing for approximately 100 years before the last meeting was held on 30 December 1981.

The Albion Park racecourse was purchased by the Racing Development Corporation (RDC) from the Brisbane Amateur Turf Club (BATC) in 1982 for $9 million.

The acquisition was undertaken by the RDC to facilitate the redevelopment of the venue for harness racing.

The disposal of the venue by the BATC allowed it to finance a new grandstand at Doomben racecourse and to carry out improvements at Deagon racecourse.

Trustees of Albion Park Raceway are appointed under the Racing Venues Development Act 1982. The Trust is a statutory body within the meaning given in the Financial Administration and Audit Act 1977

The Trust acts as landlord of the Albion Park Paceway, maintaining and operating the complex primarily for harness racing by the Albion Park Harness Racing Club on Saturday nights, and greyhound racing by the Brisbane Greyhound Racing Club on Monday and Thursday nights.

The current Trustees comprise an independent Chair and the QHRB and GRA Chairs ie, 3 trustees.

On proclamation of the Racing Legislation Amendment Act 1998 on 1 July 1999, the State of Queensland assumed ownership of Albion Park.

In June 2002, Cabinet resolved that the Albion Park Raceway asset was to be transferred from ownership by the State of Queensland, to the Greyhound Racing Authority and Queensland Harness Racing Board as tenants in common in equal shares.

Description
The Albion Park Paceway is an aggregation of 23 individual titles providing for a total area of 17.3321 hectares.

Order in Council made on 22 April 1992 amended Lot 1 on Registered Plan No 142024 in area by excluding from the control of the Trustees an area of 8,766m2, enabling the land to be utilised as the site for establishment of the Racing Science Centre.

The bulk of the land area is zoned "Sport and Recreation".

Valuation
The 2001-2002 Financial Statements for the Trustees of the Albion Park Paceway valued the land, buildings and improvements and plant and equipment of the Trust at approx. $23 million.

Dan, have you had any dealings with the Caboolture Council regarding dogs? In my experience they are not very helpful.

I think you are absolutely correct. I've built a couple of things in my life and my sums are something like this.

Land $2,000,000
Achitect drawings plans council fees $100-150,000
Track $500,000
Kennels $1,000,000
Bar/Restaurant/Kitchen and office facilities $1,000,000
Car Parking $500,000
Lighting $300,000
Gardens/landscaping $200,000
Bore $50,000
Tractor and implements $100,000
Airconditioning $1,000,000
Data $500,000

Certainly there would be plenty of change from $10,000,000, but, I think it would be prudent to tender all work out, rather than just give it to the industry participants who feel they have a right to be given the work without tender.

Perhaps someone who has bandied higher figures could offer the same worksheet on how they arrived at their figure.

BK

Just for interest, who are the few you are referring to Dan?