Looming Vote To Shape Future Of Qld Racing

QUEENSLAND greyhound racing is on the verge of a spectacular new era with the jewel in the crown, The Q at Yamanto, expected to be up and running in early 2025.

However, the new club, the Queensland Greyhound Racing Club, created through the merger of the Albion Park and Ipswich clubs, must agree to a new Constitution.

On December 18, members will be at Albion Park at 7pm to ratify the new Constitution.

Under the terms of the Constitution, 75 percent or more of the members present at the special general meeting must agree to the new Constitution to transition the club from an incorporated association to a company limited by guarantee.

This enables the club to run poker machines. The new structure must be signed off by the Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC).

Also at the December 18 meeting, members will determine which three of the current six-person committee will go onto the new company limited by guarantee board which will oversee Yamanto.

The Yamanto board will comprise four appointed directors, decided by a four-person panel, two from Racing Queensland and two from the QGRC.

Only those nominated by RQ who get a majority vote will be given the green light to be appointed.

RQ and the QGRC have held discussion forums at Albion Park and Ipswich in the past week to educate industry participants on the new Constitution.

RQ CEO, Jason Scott, said the information sessions had been vital in allaying fears about how the new board structure would work.

He said one of the major topics of discussion was what would happen to the income derived from Yamanto.

"Let me be very, very clear, it's actually in the leasing agreement, the monies derived from the club running Yamanto will go back to the club, and as such, back to the industry,” he said.

Qld Club chair, Graham Hall, said the December 18 vote was "the most important vote in the state's greyhound history”.

"I'm urging members who want to see the industry thrive and go to the next level to come along to the meeting and vote yes,” he said.

"We are committed to a veterinary clinic at Yamanto, aimed specifically at treating greyhounds, with a cost-neutral business plan to help trainers with out of pocket expenses.

“We're committed to turning this facility (The Q) into the best in the world. To do that, we need members to give us the green light. It's a win-win for everybody.”

RQ has made it clear that if the No vote prevails, it will go to tender and another club – possibly a thoroughbred club – will run Yamanto.

Scott said RQ did not want that to happen – they want the greyhound club running Yamanto because it knows the industry best – but they had to protect the $85 million put into the project.

“In life, everybody needs a Plan B and while we want the QGRC to run Yamanto, if the members don't vote for this, we have to act quickly,” he said.

The Yamanto facility will have three state of the art tracks, a one turn, two turn and straight track, and will race seven days a week.

Trialling is expected to start in February or March and the facility should be ready for racing soon after.