Residents ‘let down’ by racecourse over quarry

Residents opposing a quarry in Rangiora have accused racing clubs of putting the cart before the horse.

However, at the latest public meeting on Tuesday over the proposal for Taggart Earthmoving to establish a quarry at the racecourse, those involved did not front to answer concerns.

Hosting the meeting, Waimakariri MP Matt Doocey said both Taggart and the Rangiora Harness Racing Club had been invited, but neither showed up.

The harness club declined, saying it was not its application.

The Rangiora Racecourse is owned by the Rangiora club in partnership with the Canterbury Jockey Club.

Doocey said he did not feel Taggart was the issue – it was a commercial operation which was entitled to make money.

‘‘I think the Rangiora Racecourse has been a bit cute about this when they say it’s Taggart’s application,’’ he said.

‘‘The racecourse relies on us as customers ... they have let the community down.’’

Doocey said he had stopped going to the races at Rangiora because of the quarry proposal.

‘‘At the end of the day, it’s Rangiora Racecourse land. They can stop this today if they withdraw their support for the application.’’

A group of residents has been meeting regularly since the consent application was announced last year, and a 5000-signature petition was presented to the Waimakariri District Council weeks before it was officially notified. On top of concerns about silica dust, noise, traffic and a decrease in property values, the group believes allowing the quarry would contravene the Racing Industry Act 2020.

The consent application lodged with the district council and Environment Canterbury (ECan) said a joint committee of the harness and jockey clubs had delegated powers to make contractual arrangements for land use at the site.

But John Mather, one of the nearby residents, said this was not the case – the clubs must first apply in writing to the code with which it is registered.

Waimakariri mayor Dan Gordon said the current district plan was 20 years old and had not caught up with the changes and growth in the area.

A quarry at the racecourse was not something the council had anticipated would come up, he said.