STAWELL Racing Club is in the midst of upgrading its facilities in the hope to attract new trainers to the region.
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Flagged as a training centre through Racing Victoria, Stawell's racetrack is the only track in the Wimmera that has resident trainers.
The committee is working behind the scenes to upgrade and enhance the already existing facilities with the idea to add more in the future.
Project driver and committee member Terry Oates said the committee was hopeful trainers would take up the opportunity which was now in front of them.
"The upgrades will be making it easier for trainers and horses to use the yards," he said. "If someone was to lease space in the yards, it's easy for them to come out and take their horses for a run around the track.
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"We've found so many things that we've been working on as we've been slowly working our way through the facilities and making improvements."
Mr Oates said the improvements would come in at around $500,000.
"That would be an estimate so far," he said. "There are many other things we would like to do as well but we would require more funding."
Mr Oates said utilising the racetrack daily allowed the club to employ about five people.
"With bringing in more trainers to the area hopefully means more jobs, more people, and more money being spent locally," he said.
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"It's not just about the racing club but about the whole community of Stawell.
"They're going to have to live somewhere, they're going to have to buy food somewhere. Even if they are working part-time there's an opportunity for some to pick up other work and fill some positions that are open now.
"During the upgrades and more to come in the future we've used all local contractors."
Mr Oates said space for trainers wasn't limited just yet and the committee was open to suggestions.
"Our plans mean we can do them in stages as we go and trainers come along," he said. "There are lots of things to think of and as we go we are uncovering more and more things we're working through but it will all be worth it when it's done. It's a massive project we started a few months ago."
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