Bird's-eye view of new harness development

A bird’s-eye view of the facility, just off the Vale Road, gives residents a real indication of how the $7.5 million development is taking shape.

Retired pilot Jerry Trevor-Jones snapped the image which shows the outline of the track, the car park, main clubhouse and grandstand and stable complex.

These are exciting times for Bathurst Harness Racing Club which believes the venture will herald a new era for the sport in the region.

Club chief executive officer Danny Dwyer said yesterday they were aiming to host the first meeting at the track this October.

“We are more than happy with the way things are going,” he said. “In fact, it’s coming along better than we expected in terms of the overall development.

“The stables are about 90 per cent completed, and the track’s probably at about the same stage, while the club house is at the Gyprock stage.

“People are starting to get some sort of vision on what the finished product is going to be like because from the aerial shot you can see the major landmarks on the site.”

Mr Dwyer said the development is a massive investment by Harness Racing NSW in the future of the sport in the region.

“It shows their confidence in the Bathurst region as somewhere which can take harness racing into a new era, as part of its bigger picture plans for the future,” he said.

“The new season kicks off in September, and shortly after that there will be the transition from the showground to the Vale Road complex. Trainers will still be able to base themselves at the showground if they wish, but it is our plan to have a similar setup at the new location.

“However, that will come in time and will be the focus of a separate development application. Some may want to move and some may want to stay where they are.”