Any potential sale of Avondale Racecourse should come with a commitment from the Government to maximise Avondale as a quality and inclusive place, Whau Local Board has said.
In its submission to the 2018 Messara Report into the New Zealand racing industry, Tracy Mulholland, Whau Local Board chair, says that the public good should be considered from the outset and that the local board would be requesting active discussions should the racecourse be sold.
Community value
“While we acknowledge that the racecourse would generate in excess of $200 million that could be reinvested in the racing industry if it were to be sold, Avondale Racecourse also provides a significant number of community activities through its facilities,” Tracy Mulholland says.
“While the sports fields are utilised by numerous community groups at both junior and senior level, the racecourse is also the venue for the iconic markets and a venue for hire, all of which have significant community value and input and would need to be considered if it were to be sold."
Open space
“Whau Local Board requests that should any sale proceed, the Government plays a leading role in helping to work through the obvious opportunities for open space provision, specifically large-scale space to support sporting, recreational, housing, heritage, arts and community needs.
“The board would also request that the Government positively influence the establishment of a quality development design framework toward maximising a future outcome of Avondale as a quality and inclusive place of residence and small-scale local business.”
The submission was provided to the 2018 Messara report into the New Zealand Racing industry on September 12.
