The Kalgoorlie-Boulder Racing Club is prepared to take legal action in a bid to resolve a water shortage that threatens the long-term viability of the city’s thoroughbred industry.
Confirming the worst fears of the local racing community, the opening meeting of the Kalgoorlie season on March 21 has already been transferred to Esperance.
Kalgoorlie trainers face an 800km round trip to race at the township on the Southern Ocean coastline, bringing water supply issues to a head after months of failed negotiations at council level with City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder officials.
Talks to reach terms on a sustainable and affordable supply of recycled water for the racecourse broke down last week amid claims the council has increased its charges by almost 700 per cent on its historical rate.
As Racing WA, KBRC and council officials met, it was revealed that the racing club has only a week’s worth of water left in its on-course catchment dam.
Despite recent rainfall in the region, the KBRC says irrigation of the course proper has reached a critical point.
The crisis has been blamed on a deal between council and a West Australian mining company.
In 2021, the city signed an agreement with Lynas Rare Earths to supply 1.7 gigalitres of recycled water a year for its $800 million Kalgoorlie processing plant.
Major Kalgoorlie sporting facilities such as the racecourse have faced water shortages.
The situation has since escalated after Lynas told the city it would need its full quota of water for its operations in 2025.
“We have received legal advice and are prepared to challenge this situation if a fair solution is not offered,” a KBRC statement read.
“More race meetings remain at risk unless a fair water pricing agreement is reached.
“While (the) KBRC and Racing WA successfully secured an adequate water supply following conversations in November and December last year … the proposed rate is more than 680 per cent higher than our historical rate.
“(It’s) an unsustainable cost for the KBRC.
Warwick Barr
“We remain committed to securing a resolution that ensures KBRC’s long-term future. We must protect the long-term future of our racecourse which has been a cornerstone of our community for almost 130 years.”
Racing WA chief racing officer David Hunter said the ongoing uncertainty of an affordable water supply meant that the turf track would not be ready for the opening meeting and further fixtures were also in doubt.
“Transferring the KBRC’s first meeting of the season to the Esperance Bay Turf Club is not a step we take lightly, but ensuring race meetings remain on the calendar is paramount for all participants,” he said.
“We urge the (council) to come to the table for a rate which ensures the long-term sustainability of racing in Kalgoorlie-Boulder.
“Racing WA must act to protect the interests of the State’s racing industry and the 430 full-time jobs racing sustains in the Goldfields-Esperance region.
“The future of racing in Kalgoorlie-Boulder, and the community it serves, depends on swift and decisive action.”
However, the Kalgoorlie council is in no mood to soften its stance despite acknowledging the economic and tourism benefits racing brings to the Western Australia Goldfields city.
Mayor Glenn Wilson told the ABC the city had been in a position to supply water to the racing club since December 19.
But he insists the council does not do “handshake deals”.
"We don't do 'looking after mates', we do the governance which is required," he said.
"We're trying to do what we can within our limitations, and to get a result because we do want to see racing."
Kalgoorlie, about 600 kilometres east of Perth, is home to a vibrant thoroughbred industry.
The KBRC stages 25 meetings annually with its Kalgoorlie Cup carnival known as the “Race Round” attracting city trainers and their horses as well as visitors from Perth, regional WA and interstate.
"We must protect the long-term future of our racecourse which has been a cornerstone of our community for almost 130 years” - Kalgoorlie-Boulder Racing Club
To boost tourism numbers, the WA government has backed the introduction of a slot race from 2025 with $1.5 million in funding over the next three years.
At this stage, the $1 million Golden Saddle will be held on Kalgoorlie Cup day as regional Australia’s richest slot race.
