Racecourse cost kept secret

The Westland District Council is refusing to say how much public money it spent buying the Hokitika Racecourse.

The council announced yesterday that it had bought the

19.5-hectare central Hokitika site from the Westland Racing Club.

The club faced the axe after a review of the New Zealand racing industry recommended closing

20 racecourses around the country, including in Hokitika.

Council chief executive Simon Bastion said he was not ‘‘making that information available’’ when asked how much public money was spent on the purchase.

In 2017, the racecourse had a capital value of almost

$1.5 million.

Bastion said the sale meant the future of the grounds had been secured.

The council had completed due diligence to purchase the property, he said.

‘‘This ensures that, following racing industry reforms, the land will be retained for the benefit of the community,’’ Bastion said. ‘‘This land plays an important part in the activities of the local community, with Riding for the Disabled and private users utilising the grounds and Boys’ Brigade leasing part of it for their building. The next 12 months will be a transition phase and there is unlikely to be any change to current use.’’

The council would formalise all of the agreements currently in place for the property over the next few months.

An ‘‘overarching master plan’’ would be developed in the longterm, and the community would be consulted on the plans, Bastion said.

Mayor Bruce Smith has been contacted for comment and in a statement said the racecourse was an ‘‘important asset’’ for Westland.

‘‘The gesture made by the Westland Racing Club for the community is immeasurable, and a wonderful Christmas present for the district.

‘‘We want to make sure that it is available for generations.’’

Former Westland Racing Club president Gray Eatwell said he was disappointed by the sale. He had hoped the club could continue its race meetings and had been lobbying Racing Minister Winston Peters to keep it running.

‘‘New Zealand racing will be all the poorer for the loss of the country-style horse racing Westland brings to the people, in an environment that is special on any global standard.’’

Hokitika’s racecourse included a category one heritage building, he said.

Peters commissioned top Australian administrator and stud owner John Messara to review the New Zealand racing industry, which has been in an ailing state for the past decade.

Messara recommended racing licences not be allocated to Stratford, Blenheim, Wairoa, Reefton, Hokitika, Waimate, Winton, Dargaville, Thames and Wyndham for the 2019-20 racing season, which began on August 1.

Gray Eatwell

future