HORSES FOR COURSES

Houses or hooves: Fight for future of turf precinct

THEY’RE off and running to court. Racing industry heavyweights and the Gold Coast’s richest man are battling over the future of the Bundall horseracing precinct. The horseracing identities oppose the construction of a small unit complex they say does not belong amid stables. Meanwhile billionaire Bob Ell is challenging the council over its refusal to allow him to build a two-tower development near the racecourse.

DEVELOPERS and thoroughbred industry heavyweights have gone to court in a battle over the future of the Bundall horseracing precinct.

At stake are two developments proposed for the area – a small six-unit project on Ken Russell Crt which was approved by the council and a 217-unit two-tower proposal on Racecourse Dr which was rejected.

Land near the Gold Coast Turf Club has been zoned as solely for use to further the horse-racing industry.

Both projects were classed as residential. Despite this the sixunit project by Booboo Pty Ltd was given the green light by council officers without going before a council meeting.

But the council last month rejected the two towers by billionaire Bob Ell’s Leda company due to it not furthering the racing industry and its proximity to sewage treatment and concrete batching plants.

The Magic Millions and eight horseracing identities have lodged court appeals to stop the smaller project due to safety fears for the horses. Magic Millions has a base two doors from the development.

Magic Millions managing director Vin Cox said: “We didn’t feel that use is in line with the community in this area. People moving into these apartments wouldn’t be au fait with the industry.”

That included the early hours and conditions needed for racehorses, he said.

Trainer Mel Eggleston, who trains horses next to the proposed development, said racehorses took fright easily and it was likely a horse would injure itself or an employee. “One of (the owners) said, ‘I hope it’s not one of my horses’,” he said.

The development has been lodged by Booboo Pty Ltd, run by Allan and Jamie Bourke.

Jamie Bourke is a real estate agent on the Gold Coast and Allan Bourke owns property in Bundall and Tugun. The family owns about 25 horses trained at Bundall.

“What I do know is we have a valid development approval which has been issued,” said Jamie Bourke, who added the family planned to build and rent the units to people within the racing industry.

The council is also fighting Mr Ell over the development it rejected less than a kilometre away. Leda called council’s decision “erroneous, unreasonable and unlawful”. Leda say the twin towers project will “rejuvenate” a neglected area.

“We have now seen the Gold Coast Turf Club is of the same view having promoted plans for a similar development directly opposite ours,” a spokesman said. The turf club has a plan for a hotel near the track.

A council spokeswoman declined to comment as the matters were before the courts.