Bunbury Track Redevelopment Update

The civil works for the Bunbury Track Redevelopment commenced in June 2021.

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The Bunbury Track Redevelopment process is progressing well, please click here for the latest update from Racing and Wagering Australia (download detailed PDF here).

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On Thursday 20 December Racing and Wagering Western Australia (RWWA) announced funding for a number of capital projects across WA for thoroughbreds. The highlight of these announcements is the $17M committed to track upgrades at Bunbury.

The upgrades at Bunbury include:

  • New Course Proper (All-weather Turf) – 20m wide
  • New Training Track (Sand/Fibre) – 17m wide
  • New Drainage across both tracks
  • New Irrigation System across all tracks (including the realigned jog track)
  • New Horse Stalls

There are no planned upgrades for the grandstand or customer facilities in this round of works; this project is exclusively for upgrading racing infrastructure at the Bunbury Turf Club.

Where are we at right now?

We are currently at 90% completion of the redevelopment. The redevelopment will be completed this year with trainers resuming trackwork in late March/early April.

To view current drone footage of the project please click here

Planning for next season

We will be racing in the 2023/2024 season, with racing due to commence in Spring 2023.

What happens when we do turn over the first sod of turf?

When we commence the upgrades there will be no race meeting at Bunbury for at least 12 months.  We currently only race 6 months a year, so we essentially lose a season of racing at Bunbury.

The training facilities for participants at Bunbury will be unavailable for at least 6 months of the project. We are working with RWWA around strategies to minimise the interruption to trainers and their livelihoods.

What happens when we return to racing?

The shutdown will be tough on local trainers but the end result will ensure their future long-term in racing at Bunbury. The track redevelopment will allow us to provide year-round racing at Bunbury.  The upgraded training track will provide a safe consistent surface all year round for local participants and will have the ability to host barrier trials and jump-outs.

Local trainers will have race meeting being spread more evenly throughout the year and the perceived disadvantage of being a Bunbury trainer will be diminished. The track will have a capacity for 35 race meetings a year but in the short to medium term the club will continue to race 21 times a year.

This project will be a shot of confidence for the entire industry and will ensure we retain current participants and be a strong alternative for those considering relocation. Just as importantly, this project will offer an attractive proposition for new entrants to start their careers in racing.