The project was first mooted several years ago.
In the Oamaru Harness Racing Club’s annual report for the 2015-16 financial year, distributed to club members last week, club president Dave Heffernan said while plans were still in the early stages, the club was pushing ahead.
"There is no reason it couldn’t be completed in 2017 ... there is definitely an appetite for that kind of conference area in the North Otago area."
He believed community support was vital, as the club may not consider the project viable if an upgraded grandstand was utilised only during race meetings.
The project would feature the main grandstand being renovated to have the racecourse’s bar and cafe overlooking the track’s winning post.
The area underneath the grandstand, which at present houses the bar and cafe, would become the racecourse’s administration base and area for jockeys and drivers, while the grassed area in front of the grandstand would become the birdcage.
The facility would also cater for large conferences.
Mr Heffernan said the reasons behind the potential redevelopment project were twofold.
"One is obviously earthquake-proofing. We’re going to be forced to bring it up to percentage, and that percentage seems to be moving around all the time, and so do the dates.
"The second part is obviously the stand overlooks the winning post, so it’s the focal point of the racecourse for viewing."
He said the grandstand’s mezzanine floor, dating back to the 1970s, had become a "white elephant" and was a space that was at one time "wall to wall with punters".
That would be expanded as part of the project.
An engineering report on the grandstand had been completed and estimated costs received, and discussions had been had with "key people" in regards to funding.
Mr Heffernan said the Oamaru Harness Racing Club and the Kurow Harness Racing Club, which holds one meeting at Oamaru Racecourse annually, supported the project.
However, the clubs, while in a solid financial position, could not be expected to pay the entire cost if the project was to go ahead.
"It’s not like we can’t afford it, but I wouldn’t like to exhaust the funds of the Oamaru and Kurow clubs to do it ...we need to look at what percentage of the balance would be funded."
He declined to reveal the likely cost of the project.
The Oamaru Harness Racing Club posted a surplus of $7256 for the financial year.
— Oamaru Mail
