❓ A WA MP questions the approval process, funding, and potential impact of a new race meeting at Lark Hill, particularly concerning its effect on regional racing. The Minister's response indicates the event was initiated by local business people, approved by an independent board, and has minimal government involvement or impact on regional racing.
AnsweredQoN 1754Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the thoroughbred race meeting to be held at Lark Hill Thoroughbred Training Complex (Lark Hill) on 26 April 2026 and I ask: (a) who proposed the staging of a race meeting at Lark Hill; (b) on what date was the proposal first submitted to Racing WA; (c) who within Racing WA assessed the proposal; (d) on what date did Racing WA approve the race meeting in principle; (e) was a formal business case prepared for the Lark Hill race meeting: (i) if so, will the Minister table the business case; (f) What criteria was used to assess the suitability of Lark Hill as a race meeting venue; (g) was the Minister briefed on the proposal prior to its approval: (i) if so, on what date was the Minister first briefed; (h) did the Minister or the Minister's office request or encourage the creation of this race meeting: (i) if so, what form did that request take; (i) is the Lark Hill complex located within the Minister's electorate: (i) if so, has the Minister declared an actual, perceived or potential conflict of interest; and (ii) if a conflict was declared, when was it declared and to whom; (j) what is the total cost of staging the Lark Hill race meeting: (i) how much of that cost will be borne by Racing WA; and (ii) how much of that costs will be borne directly or indirectly by the State Government; (k) will any State Government grants or appropriations be used to support the event: (i) if so, what are the funding sources and amounts; (l) what is the breakdown of costs, including but not limited to infrastructure, staffing, security, marketing and prizemoney; (m) how much prizemoney will be offered at the Lark Hill race meeting; (n) from which funding pool will that prizemoney be drawn; (o) will the prizemoney for this event reduce prizemoney available to other race meetings; (p) will the creation of this race meeting result in fewer race meetings being held in regional Western Australia: (i) if so, which regional race meetings will be reduced or removed; (q) Has Racing WA reduced the number of regional race meetings in the same period this event was approved: (i) if so, how many regional race meetings have been reduced or cut; (r) Has Racing WA modelled the impact of this new race meeting on regional racing participation; (s) has Racing WA modelled the impact on wagering turnover for regional race meetings; (t) were regional racing clubs consulted prior to approval of this event: (i) if so, which clubs were consulted; (ii) what feedback was received from regional racing stakeholders; and (iii) were any objections raised by regional racing clubs: (A) if objections were raised, what were they and how were they addressed; (u) why was a new metropolitan race meeting prioritised over existing regional meetings; (v) were alternative regional locations considered and if so, why were they rejected; (w) what infrastructure upgrades are required to host the race meeting at Lark Hill: (i) who will fund those infrastructure upgrades; and (ii) are any of the upgrades permanent in nature: (A) if so, what is the estimated ongoing maintenance cost; (x) is this intended to be a one off event or an ongoing annual race meeting; (y) if ongoing, what is the estimated forward cost over the next four years; (z) how does this event align with the Government's stated position on racing industry sustainability; (aa) how does the event align with recent reductions in regional racing opportunities; (bb) has the Minister met with Racing WA specifically to discuss this event: (i) if so, on what dates did those meetings occur; (cc) will the Minister table all correspondence between the Minister's office and Racing WA relating to this event; (dd) will the Minister table any internal briefings prepared for the Minister regarding this race meeting; and (ee) if the race meeting operates at a financial loss, who will bear that loss?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
14 April 2026
Responded by
Minister for Racing and Gaming
Response time
11 days
(a-e) A group of local Rockingham business persons and racehorse trainers based at Lark Hill. The Proposal was submitted to the RWWA’s Racing WA management team in January 2025. The independent RWWA Board made the decision to approve the event in September 2025.
(f) Lark Hill was assessed against the RWWA Stewards’ minimum standards for a community race meeting.
(g) Yes. The Minister for Racing and Gaming receives briefing regularly on racing matters.
(h) No.
(i) Yes.
(i-ii) The decision to approve the event was made by the independent RWWA Board.
(j-m) The total cost is unknown due to all event costs being incurred by the Lark Hill Race Club and Perth Racing. RWWA will contribute $118,240 in prizemoney, operational costs and jockey fees and trainer subsidies, all of which goes directly to industry participants. There is no State Government contribution.
Total prizemoney is $98,000 the RWWA contribution and $20,000 from the Lark Hill Race Club.
(n) The $78,000 will be drawn from the metropolitan prizemoney budget, with an additional $20,000 to be provided by the Lark Hill Race Club through sponsorship.
(o) No.
(p) No.
(q) During this period, seven regional race meetings did not proceed. Variations of this nature occur from time to time as part of normal operations, with some meetings affected by unforeseen circumstances such as weather conditions and track-related issues.
(r-u) Racing WA has modelled the impact and expects no effect on regional participation or wagering turnover. Consultation occurred and feedback was received through the Western Australian Provincial Thoroughbred Racing Association and the Country Racing Association. The Lark Hill meeting was scheduled to avoid clashing with another community racing fixture and has not been prioritised over existing regional race meetings.
(v) No.
(w) Permanent, minor upgrades, such as improvements to the public address system and fencing, are being undertaken and funded within the venue’s existing maintenance budget.
(x-y) RWWA has only approved an initial race meeting. Any further event in subsequent years will be subject to application from the race club and review of the initial event.
(z) All contributions are funded within existing, approved metropolitan funding streams for FY26 and the event has potential to grow attendance, participation and revenue for the industry.
(aa) There is no correlation between the approval of the 2026 race meeting at Lark Hill and the minor reduction in regional racing opportunities.
(bb-cc) No. There is no correspondence between my Ministerial office and RWWA relating to the event.
(dd) No. Internal briefings prepared for Ministers are routine working documents provided to support ministerial duties and are not ordinarily tabled.
(ee) As with all race meetings, any financial loss incurred in conducting the event would be borne by the race club.
(f) Lark Hill was assessed against the RWWA Stewards’ minimum standards for a community race meeting.
(g) Yes. The Minister for Racing and Gaming receives briefing regularly on racing matters.
(h) No.
(i) Yes.
(i-ii) The decision to approve the event was made by the independent RWWA Board.
(j-m) The total cost is unknown due to all event costs being incurred by the Lark Hill Race Club and Perth Racing. RWWA will contribute $118,240 in prizemoney, operational costs and jockey fees and trainer subsidies, all of which goes directly to industry participants. There is no State Government contribution.
Total prizemoney is $98,000 the RWWA contribution and $20,000 from the Lark Hill Race Club.
(n) The $78,000 will be drawn from the metropolitan prizemoney budget, with an additional $20,000 to be provided by the Lark Hill Race Club through sponsorship.
(o) No.
(p) No.
(q) During this period, seven regional race meetings did not proceed. Variations of this nature occur from time to time as part of normal operations, with some meetings affected by unforeseen circumstances such as weather conditions and track-related issues.
(r-u) Racing WA has modelled the impact and expects no effect on regional participation or wagering turnover. Consultation occurred and feedback was received through the Western Australian Provincial Thoroughbred Racing Association and the Country Racing Association. The Lark Hill meeting was scheduled to avoid clashing with another community racing fixture and has not been prioritised over existing regional race meetings.
(v) No.
(w) Permanent, minor upgrades, such as improvements to the public address system and fencing, are being undertaken and funded within the venue’s existing maintenance budget.
(x-y) RWWA has only approved an initial race meeting. Any further event in subsequent years will be subject to application from the race club and review of the initial event.
(z) All contributions are funded within existing, approved metropolitan funding streams for FY26 and the event has potential to grow attendance, participation and revenue for the industry.
(aa) There is no correlation between the approval of the 2026 race meeting at Lark Hill and the minor reduction in regional racing opportunities.
(bb-cc) No. There is no correspondence between my Ministerial office and RWWA relating to the event.
(dd) No. Internal briefings prepared for Ministers are routine working documents provided to support ministerial duties and are not ordinarily tabled.
(ee) As with all race meetings, any financial loss incurred in conducting the event would be borne by the race club.
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