Kibble and Biscuits - Greyhounds Queensland

Logan's bidfor greyhoundracingByDAVID BRASCHLOGAN City wants greyhound racingand it has the backing of the council thethird largest in Queensland.Development and environmentcommittee chairman Russell Lutton isbehind the moves to look at theestablishment of a new greyhound race clubor the relocation of the Brisbane Club to thearea.Already a number of prime sites havebeen spotlighted as possible greyhoundracetracks.Lutton, 55, has been a greyhound ownerfor many years and a member of theCouncil for 20 years.He said he had already discussed agreyhound racing move to Logan City withhis fellow councillors and they indicatedtheir full support.Lutton said “four or five years ago” theBrisbane Club approached Logan Cityabout the possibility of relocating fromAlbion Park.“The club also looked at an area inRedland Shire, but changes were made atAlbion Park regarding ownership so theclub was committed to stay there,” he said.Lutton is fully aware of the suggestedredevelopment of the Albion Park complex.“And I’m also fully aware that themajority of the greyhound racing industrywants out of there,” he said.Want a Good Tip?AirportCars794 Oxley Rd, CorindaContactDaryl & DeniseKavanagh0418 878880Logan Shire CouncillorRussell Lutton on one of anumber of sites he feelswould suit a greyhoundracing complex.Under the Local Government reform,Logan City will take in Beenleigh,including the Showgrounds wheregreyhound racing had been held fordecades.Lutton said he was not suggestinggreyhound racing should be re-opened atthe Beenleigh Showgrounds unless a newlydeveloped track and facilities were built.He said a large number of hobbytrainers and professionals either lived in orwere within a short drive of Logan City.“Some of the sites available forgreyhound racing are perfect,” he said.Lutton said he had held very informaltalks with the GRA regarding a possibleshift.“Logan is a very powerful council,” hesaid. “As I said, we are the third largest cityin the state.“In our Shire we have five statemembers in Government including aMinister. Under the Local GovernmentReform we will get another Minister underour expanded boundaries.”He sympathized with owners andHave the Right Info for YouNew or Used CarsServicing the GreyhoundIndustry for 25 yearsSpecial of the Month2001 VX Commodore Wagon145,000kms, Log Books$9750trainers and the nightmare they facedgetting to and from Albion Park under theever-increasing traffic burden that isBrisbane’s streets.“Albion Park is too hard to get to,” hesaid. “The traffic is difficult and publictransport to the site is impossible.“I believe we can get the crowds back togreyhound racing by establishing a newracetrack in Logan.”Lutton has already floated the idea witha front page story in a recent edition of theLogan and Albert News.“And the response to me personallysince that story ran has been huge,” headmitted.“The overwhelming response was to getgoing.”Lutton says a public meeting will becalled in the not too distant future and asteering committee formed to look at thepossible sites for a possible relocation.“Once the steering committee is formed,our task will be to get a preferred site, thenhave formal talks with the GRA Board, theBrisbane Club and the Racing Minister thenlobby the State Government,” he said.“We have to put together a very goodbusiness plan and we can do that.”Lutton says a greyhound racing move toLogan City would be a “win, win” situationfor Logan.“It will bring more infrastructure, morerecognition of our Shire, a national industryto our midst etc.”“We already are getting a lot of generalsupport for the proposal,” he said.Councillor Lutton can be contacted on(07) 34125392 or 0411 869099.The (September, 2007) Journal Page 12