Issue 152 31 October, 2018
Your independent community newspaper - Ph: 4325 7369
Race Club growth could leave community groups homeless roposals to expand and redevelop the Wyong Race Club have created an uncertain future for several large community organisations who are based on Race Club land, according to Central Coast Councillors Doug Vincent and Kyle MacGregor.
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In August Wyong Race Club announced a $6 million track and training master plan. Councillors adopted a motion introduced by Clr Vincent and Clr MacGregor at their ordinary meeting on Monday, October 29, to request CEO Gary Murphy hold a master planning workshop “to review historical information and establish a community-focused vision for the future of Baker Park and the race course area in Wyong”. Clr Kyle MacGregor said he believed the precinct around the race track and Baker Park was “one of the most significant recreational facilities for the region. “It was a major Council election issue in the Wyong ward in 2017, I had been approached before the election by community members and groups who were fearful
for the future of the area,” MacGregor said. Central Coast Volunteer Rescue Squad and Central Coast Poultry Club are two major community organisations that will be required to leave their long-term homes within the Race Club site. Anthony Bliim, Captain of Central Coast Volunteer Rescue Squad, addressed the Council meeting. He said the squad was formed in 1975 and had grown on the site but Wyong Race Club had terminated its lease. “Our primary role is rescue, such as road crash, industrial accidents, domestic rescues and animal rescue,” Bliim said.
Wyong Race Club and, inset, the poultry pavilion “We also provide allow for community use community awareness with separate access to about road safety, with meeting rooms, kitchen programmes such as and toilets. Driver Reviver,” he said. “Some of the “In 1980 a 25 year lease community groups that was negotiated with have in the past or still the Wyong and District use the facility are, the Agricultural Association Multiple Sclerosis society, for a parcel of community Wyong Quilters Club, land fronting onto Rose St Central Coast Quilters, Wyong with any building Lions Club of Wyong, to remain the property Men’s Support groups, of the Volunteer Rescue WICEN to name a few. Squad. “It has also been “With community used as an emergency donations we proceeded evacuation centre in to construct the building the 1994 bushfires, and to house vehicles and Wyong Council itself equipment and to provide has in the past used the training facilities for its facility to service its staff volunteer members. vehicles. “As the building was “In 2016 the Volunteer funded by donations from Rescue Squad the community of Wyong approached Wyong Race Shire it was decided Club for approval to allow to design the facility to a training company to
use our training rooms to raise funds. “It was then discovered that with the multiple changes of membership to both the squad and the Agricultural Society that the lease was misplaced and forgotten about and it had in fact expired in 2004. “In December 2017 a new licence deed for 12 months was presented to the Volunteer Rescue Squad by Wyong Race Club which was a very poor outcome for us. “The Volunteer Rescue Squad felt obliged to sign this deed or else occupation of our building would be terminated. “This 12 month extension is about to expire and our organisation faces the
overwhelming task of finding and funding a new headquarters location as well as gathering the resources and volunteer man-hours needed to move the facilities and equipment. “We always believed that the land on which our building is located was for community use and over the past 40-plus years of our tenancy we believe we have provided a valuable community service both as a primary accredited rescue organisation and by providing a venue for other community services to gather and conduct their voluntary support services. “As such we seek clarification as to the history of the land ownership on which the racecourse occupies. “We would also be interested in the planning limitations and permitted usage of this land. “In saying this it should be noted that our organisation would fully support the review into the community use of this land,” he said. Speaking after the meeting, Clr Doug Vincent said the Wyong race course was originally the agricultural showground and the first show took place in 1905.
Office: 3 Amy Close, Wyong Phone: 4325 7369 Mail: PO Box 1056, Gosford 2250 E-mail: editorial@centralcoastnews.net Website: www.centralcoastnews.net
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