General News
16 August, 2023
Race clubs cash in on flood recovery
TERANG and Camperdown are set to benefit from joint federal and state government funding as part of ongoing flood recovery efforts.
TERANG and Camperdown are set to benefit from joint federal and state government funding as part of ongoing flood recovery efforts.
The Albanese and Andrews Labor Governments this week announced support for Victorian communities to restore treasured recreation areas and facilities damaged during the state-wide flooding in October and November 2022.
Under the Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements, the federal and state Governments have provided more than $11.8 million to 125 voluntary committees of management, which includes Terang and Camperdown racecourse committees.
The funding will give committees funding needed to restore significant community gathering places and tourist destinations for use by residents and visitors.
The projects will also consider upgrades to improve their resilience against future disasters.
The flood recovery projects range from replacement and upgrade of drainage and power, road repairs, and replacement of fencing, to more complex rebuilding projects.
Terang and District Racing Club will receive $38,531 to repair flood-impacted clubrooms, the carpark and improve the drainage around the Reserve.
Club president Shane Scally said the club wished to express its gratitude to the government for the support.
“We’re quite grateful to the state and federal governments to receive the funding,” he said.
“It’s going to allow us to fix up some plumbing from when the floods occurred as there was a fair amount of damage to the asphalt area between the grandstand and administration office.
“The funding will overall support a better experience for the general public, so the whole community is going to benefit from the funding.
“Asphalt isn’t cheap so the funding will be put to good use, and we’re very grateful to the government for its ongoing support.”
Camperdown Racecourse Recreation Reserve Committee of Management will receive $40,317 to restore and reinstate key infrastructure at the Camperdown Turf Club Reserve.
Both racecourses play an integral part in hosting thoroughbred racing in the south west and Corangamite Shire, hosting a cumulative seven race meetings, 15 sets of jumpouts and hurdle trials.
Club manager for both Terang and Camperdown Karen Van Kempen said it was “fantastic to be able to obtain funding to replace essential infrastructure that was damaged as a result of the floods and very heavy rain in late Spring 2022”.
“These venues provide facilities for no less than 2000 horses and their human stakeholders who attend the venues during Spring, Summer and Autumn each year,” she said.
“It is critical to all involved including our local communities that we continue to have facilities and infrastructure that can accommodate this activity.”
Victorian Minister for Environment Ingrid Stitt said it was important funding to ensure communities impacted by the flooding in 2022 could recover as quickly as possible.
“The flood recovery projects will help restore facilities that play an integral role in regional communities across Victoria,” she said.
Federal Minister for Emergency Management Murray Watt said the flooding of 2022 was one of the worst flood disasters in Victoria’s history, which caused significant damage across 64 of the 79 local government areas.
“I know from my visits to the region, and indeed from my visits to many disaster-impacted communities across the country, that these community resources and gathering places are critical to the
ongoing recovery journey and the Albanese Government is pleased to partner with the Andrews Government to achieve it,” he said.