The Star: September 23, 2021

The Star Thursday September 23 2021
10
NEWS
Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz
Greyhound track rejected after public outcry
• By John Cosgrove
A PUBLIC backlash has stopped
a planned return of greyhound
racing at QEII Park.
Greyhound Racing New
Zealand wanted to build an
Australian-style 300m-long
straight track racing facility on a
site previously occupied by a golf
driving range.
But the Coastal-Burwood-
Community Board rejected the
idea after receiving plenty of
objections.
Board chairman Kelly Barber
said they decided to exclude the
Greyhound Racing New Zealand
proposal due to a large amount
of community
feedback.
“I personally
had received
about 40 emails
on the proposal
and others on
the board had as
Kelly Barber
well.
“We all felt the greyhound
racing industry was going to be
under greater public scrutiny in
coming years,” he said.
Greyhound racing has been in
the spotlight in recent months.
On Monday, it was revealed
prominent trainer Craig Roberts
had a dog test positive for a
banned substance, while a spate
of dog deaths and injuries at
tracks in the North Island has
DOG-GONE: The Coastal-Burwood Community Board has voted against building a greyhound track at QEII Park.
PHOTO: AUSTRALIANRACINGGREYHOUND.COM
resulted in calls for the sport to
be investigated.
Board member Linda Stewart
cited the community’s opposition
to greyhound racing, and
with the Government considering
axing the sport at one stage,
said it would not be ideal to
include it in the process.
Animal welfare organisation
SAFE spokesperson Will
Appelbe said they are thrilled
with the community board’s
decision.
Will
Appelbe
“They listened
to their constituents.
This
development is
an amazing opportunity
for east
Christchurch to
add something of
real value for the
community,”
he said.
However, GRNZ racing
operations and welfare manager
Michael Dore said they were very
Michael
Dore
disappointed by
the outcome.
“But as a result
of all the publicity
about our
proposal we have
received a lot of
positive feedback
on straight track
racing,”
Dore said.
Since 2019, the city council
has been seeking proposals for
commercial ventures to use the
south-west corner of the 36ha
QEII Park site, adjacent to the
Travis and Frost Rds intersection.
Proposals were also filed by
the Christchurch Archery
Club, seeking an outdoor
archery range, and Five Under
Par, which proposed an $11
million amusement/sporting
complex.
The board recommended
staff seek more detailed
proposals from the remaining
two applicants.
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