The Queensland Harness Centre at Norwell will become the new home for harness racing in the Sunshine State and will provide a world class facility that is designed with animal and human welfare as its highest priority.

The Queensland Harness Centre at Norwell will feature a 1000-metre racetrack, with optionality to explore how a 1100m track with a chute could be incorporated into the future, contemporary patron facilities and a designated training centre, including tracks and stables, for standardbred horses.

Among the concepts to be further explored with stakeholders include:

• Track design to ensure fast, fair racing with horse care at the forefront;
• Contemporary patron facilities that seamlessly connect with racing infrastructure, such as race-day stabling, to ensure a racing experience when on track;
• Stabling for 150 horses on-course (constructed in stages so the venue grows with usage);
• Consideration to cater for different trainer preferences (eg: barns or walk-in, walk-out stables);
• Multiple training tracks, in addition to the main racetrack, to enable flexibility and to ensure training and racing can be staged concurrently;
• The installation of training aids such as aqua exercise (horse swim), treadmills, and walkers; and
• Incorporation of modern technology to enable owners to remotely see their horse stabled and during track work.