Racing Queensland has announced a $300,000 track up-grade to the Redcliffe Paceway will commence before the end of the month.
The scope of works, which is the venue’s most significant this decade, includes remediation and stabilisation of the existing base, laying a 100mm crusher dust base and 20mm top-dressing to provide a new racing surface.
The materials used for the base and top-dressing will be the same as those used during last year’s successful Albion Park up-grade.
The project, to be funded by RQ and the Redcliffe Harness Racing Club, is scheduled to commence on August 30, with racing expected to resume at Redcliffe in early October.
In recent times, remediation has been required to address subsidence at the venue, but with the Winter Carnival now concluded, the racing calendar will be amended to allow the up-grade to occur.
In order to do so, Thursday meetings throughout September will be transferred to Albion Park, while the traditional Wednesday night meetings at Redcliffe will be run on Monday afternoons.
Albion Park will host all of those except for Monday, September 9 which will be staged at Marburg.
“We’re looking forward to installing a new track surface at Redcliffe,” RQ COO Adam Wallish said.
“There’s no perfect time to complete this work, but after a successful Winter Carnival, we’re grateful for the support of our clubs and Sky Racing to be able to accommodate the changes and to ensure the continuity of racing.
“The project will also cater for the club’s training track to support the many participants who use the venue on a daily basis.”
To assist trainers while the track up-grade is occurring, RHRC has negotiated for local participants to access to the training track at the Redcliffe Showgrounds.
Impacted trainers will be able to access the Showgrounds track at any time from Monday to Saturday, with the venue closed for training on Sundays.
Redcliffe President Bernie Ring said the track up-grade would be well received by participants and punters alike.
"It's an exciting time for the club," Mr Ring said.
"After our successful Gold Cup meeting, we look forward to the track up-grade and a return to racing on a new surface."