The replacement of the unsafe stewards stand at Forbury Park raceway with a new administration facility was signalled at the annual meeting of the Forbury Park Trotting Club last night.
"It has been resolved that a sub-committee move expeditiously to replacing the stewards stand with a new administration block," Stephen Cairns, the chairman of the board of management of the club, said.
Asked by new committee member Keiron Dance how the facility will be funded, Cairns, said that the club had over $1 million in reserves to meet requirements.
The club has current assets of $1,034,853 including $841,000 in investments.
The club recorded a profit of $495,262 for the year ended July 31 after the sale of land which realised $746,000.
The club had a profit on racing of $192,000 compared with a surplus of $266,000 the previous year.
Alan Clyma, who was re-elected president, said the extent of the new facility would depend on funding from the New Zealand Racing Board which has ruled out the club shifting to Wingatui.
The 91-year-old stewards stand was ruled unsafe by engineers last month due to corrosion in steel beams.
The club then decided to make it a no-go area in the interests of safety.
Facilities for drivers and stipendiary stewards were relocated to temporary premises at the raceway.
Cairns said it had been a challenging year for the club but investments had not been significantly affected.
Other new members elected to the committee are Leon Crawford, Ray Fidow and Eion Latimer.
Karen Ferguson and Miles Notman retired from the committee.
John Collins, a member of the club for 54 years, and a club steward since 1998, was accorded life membership.
A rule change was passed giving the committee the power to suspend or expel a member of the club for misconduct.
The proposal, in line with the rule existing for clubs at Addington and Alexandra Park, was questioned. Paul Buckner, the solicitor for the club, assured members it was commonplace for other clubs.
There was considerable discussion on the statement of financial performance of the club with a focus on the re-leasing of the tavern.
The club operated the tavern for three months during a transition period.
"The business is now performing well and significant deferred maintenance and refurbishment programmes have been completed," Cairns, said.
