Harness board want money plan | Warwick Sport | Surfing, Rugby, Soccer, Football, Cricket in Warwick

By GERARD WALSH

TREVOR Ives is encouraged by the request from Queensland Harness Racing Limited for a financial plan for a proposed new paceway in Warwick.

The Warwick and Southern Downs Harness Racing Association president said he received an email from QHRL CEO Andrew Kelly requesting a financial plan.

The association was formed in April to push for the construction of a paceway so as to hold regular TAB harness racing meetings in the Warwick area.

Currently, harness racing is conducted at Gold Coast, Redcliffe, Rocklea and Albion Park.

There have been no country harness racing meetings in Queensland for more than a year.

Ives said a general association meeting for all interested parties would be held on the first Monday of each month at O'Mahony's Hotel at 5.30pm starting on July 7.

"Not only will this proposal provide a track for racing but regular trials and a full training facility which will attract more trainers to the area," Ives said.

Southern Downs Regional Council mayor Ron Bellingham said the paceway play was a positive idea for the area.

"I support the proposal in principle," Cr Bellingham said.

"The harness racing track is a significant development and can't happen overnight.

"Harness racing is a sport that has traditionally had a significant following in the Warwick area.

"With the energy of the supporters, a harness racing facility would compliment what is already at Morgan Park."

He said there was potential for fairly significant development in the whole Morgan Park area.

"There is a desire by the Warwick Show and Rodeo Society to re-locate to the area.

"That would allow the development of new facilities but we would need the support from other levels of Government," Cr Bellingham said.

The paceway plan will be considered as part of the Morgan Park Master Plan.