Phil Donato poses question to David Harris about the proposed greyhound racing centre of excellence for either Orange or Bathurst.
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00:00 Thank you Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker my questions to the Minister for Gaming and
00:05 Racing, Medical Research, Veterans, Aboriginal Affairs, Treaty and Central
00:09 Coast. It's a mouthful. Minister in light of the Bathurst Greyhound track
00:19 being destroyed in last year's floods and with advancing negotiations between
00:24 the Greyhound Breeders Owners and Traders Association and Orange City
00:27 Council for a 15 million dollar Greyhound Racing Centre of Excellence
00:31 at the disused Orange track progressing, can the Minister update
00:36 the New South Wales, update the House what the New South Wales Government and
00:39 Greyhound Racing New South Wales are doing to progress and support this much
00:43 needed facility? Minister as you come I draw your attention to the clock.
00:49 I'd be really quick. It's good to talk about something that's not controversial.
00:54 I'd like to thank the Member for Orange for his question and his commitment to
01:00 his community particularly in regards to Greyhound Racing. Like the Member for
01:05 Orange the New South Wales Government is committed to competitive safe and
01:09 sustainable Greyhound Racing in New South Wales particularly in the Central
01:13 West. In regards to the Orange site I note that I note and applaud the
01:19 Councillors from Orange City Council who marched this year voted to back the use
01:23 of the former trotting track for Greyhound Racing. The rehabilitation and
01:27 use of this land in Orange for Greyhound Racing has been estimated to provide a
01:31 20 million dollar boost to the local economy and local jobs. Currently I
01:36 understand that Greyhound Racing New South Wales and the Greyhound Breeders
01:39 Owners and Trainers Association are in active negotiations with both Orange
01:43 City Council as well as Bathurst Regional Council about a centre of
01:47 excellence in Greyhound Racing for the Central West. However I note this is a
01:52 commercial decision by the relevant organisations and there are sensitivities
01:56 in commenting publicly on the progress of those negotiations. I look forward to
02:01 receiving an update on the centre of excellence proposal in due course. I
02:06 understand that that decision may be imminent so we'll find out about that.
02:10 More broadly the government is or has not the government the there has been 30
02:17 million dollars committed for conditional grants to fund improvements
02:21 that promote track safety and greyhound welfare across the state. We're committed
02:26 to delivering an industry that is safe and puts animal welfare first and I
02:31 thank the the member for Orange for his question.