WITHDRAWN - RACING QLD'S PLANS FOR DEAGON RACECOURSE

Deagon Racecourse update: Back to the drawing board for Deagon Racecourse.

Today Racing Queensland has announced they are withdrawing their development application for the Deagon Racecourse from the Brisbane City Council. This means they are not proceeding with their current plans.

You will find a copy of the media statement regarding this at the end of this story.

With bi-partisan opposition to these plans at the Brisbane City Council level, it was unlikely the $39.9M redevelopment of Deagon Racecourse would have made it through a vote of Council.

The local community has spoken loudly and clearly - the plans to turn the Deagon Racecourse from a thoroughbred training facility into a greyhound and harness racing and training facility wasn't what most people wanted.

I've been saying from day one these plans were going to have significant impacts on the local community, and locals needed to be properly consulted on such a big change.

This decision is a real win for people power- and I congratulate locals for making your views known, loud and clear.

I welcome Racing Queensland's announcement they are pulling their current development application and are going back to the drawing board at Deagon.

Plans to keep the thoroughbred training at Deagon is very welcome news, with so many locals involved in the industry for generations. It's a part of the character of the suburb of Deagon, so I'm really pleased to see this is staying.

I'd like to see Racing Queensland work with trainers to ensure money will be spent on upgrading facilities for thoroughbred training.

They need certainty and support to know they have a viable future training at Deagon, and I know these local trainers have been calling for improvements to the local facilities.

I hope Racing Queensland has learnt some valuable lessons about the local community.

People living in the local area are very passionate about the community, which is why so many people signed petitions and made hundreds of submissions to Council on these plans.

The clear message to Racing Queensland is this community must be properly consulted on future plans.

Given the plans may still involve harness racing, as well as training for thoroughbreds, harness and possibly greyhounds too, there needs to be a genuine opportunity for local residents to be involved in the new Deagon Racecourse masterplan.

Racing Queensland needs to change its approach with the local community, and undertake proper, genuine consultation on the future plans.

This new masterplan is an opportunity for Racing Queensland to work with local residents on this new plan and make a fresh start.

Today's statement makes it clear the master plan will only be developed based on the sale of Albion Park.

My message to Racing Queensland is there's now time to go back to the drawing board and properly consult with residents to develop future plans for the site.

While we want investment at Deagon, locals have made it very clear want to have a say in what this investment looks like.

As local Councillor, I will continue to stand up and fight for the interests of the local community.