VISION FOR THE FUTURE
The Mount Barker Turf Club (the Club) has been active since pre-1945, providing a thoroughbred racing venue for Great Southern trainers, spectators and industry participants.
The Club has been involved with numerous industry projects and research over the past five years to identify opportunities to develop long term viability, sustainability and to prosper.
This research coupled with a desire to move forward has resulted in a five year action plan which will see the Club provide new facilities such as an on-course training track, an extension and realignment of the racing track to incorporate a 1,600m chute and on-course stabling. New marketing strategies will also be identified and implemented to improve the Club’s ability to compete in the entertainment market.
The close working relationship with the Shire of Plantagenet, industry leaders and support businesses has given the Club confidence that the plans for the next five years are realistic, achievable and will deliver the desired outcomes.
Vision, Mission, Targets and Key Objectives
Our vision:
To build the thoroughbred racing industry in terms of customers, yields, jobs, participants, training opportunities, economic impact and marketing strategies by performing effectively in the racing business to bring prosperity to the Mount Barker Turf Club and the network of community and corporate organisations that support the Club.
We will pursue our vision by:
Both representatives from the Club and the Shire President and Chief Executive Officer from the Shire of Plantagenet have met with Executive members from RWWA to discuss the future proposals for the Club at Frost Park.
Indicative support has been given to the capital club developments (constructing a training track, realigning the racing track and on-course stabling) however the Club’s 2008 application for financial assistance to RWWA’s Capital Development Plans to initiate the construction went unfunded.
RWWA has identified the Albany Racing Club as the regional centre for racing in the Great Southern, however the 2001 revision of the South Coast Water Reserve Protection Plan has identified the Albany Racing Club as part of the Priority 1 Water Protection Area. The implications for the Albany Racing Club of the Water Reserve Protection Plan are upgrades to waste management systems and restriction on future plans for growth and development of equine activities.
Developments such as on-course stabling will be very difficult to initiate and manage on a Priority 1 Water Protection Area, therefore providing an opportunity for this type of development to occur for the racing industry at an unrestricted site, such as Mount Barker. Due to the racing schedule between Albany and Mount Barker, trainers that moved to the district would frequent both racing clubs.
Collaboration with the Albany Race Club and Albany and Districts Trotting Club
In 2002 the Great Southern Thoroughbred Racing Industry Taskforce (GS TRIT) was formed under the auspices of the Great Southern Development Commission as a business and community initiative to help revitalise the thoroughbred racing industry.
The then West Australian Turf Club, through the Country Racing Manager Mr Bill Colgan, fully supported the initiative along with other members of the WATC Executive and the Chairman of the WA Provincial Racing Association, Mr Ian Loxton. Members on the GS TRIT committee include Mr Dean Thornton, accountant, Mr Brian Fuller, business identity, Mr Don Perfrement, marketing and promotion adviser, Ms Nicole Selesnew, project officer for the Great Southern Equine Industry Council and representatives from the Mount Barker Turf Club and Albany Racing Club committees.
GS TRIT had the delicate job of supporting the two local race clubs, their management and their committees without usurping their authority. One of the recommendations from the GS TRIT project was the joint management of thoroughbred racing in the Great Southern which was supported by two sub-committees, one tasked with managing the day to day operations of racing in Albany and the other, managing racing in Mount Barker.
The concept of joint management of thoroughbred racing was not adopted by either Club due to the differences in Club goals at the time of the GS TRIT project.
The concept has not been abandoned in entirety. During the 2008 Mount Barker Turf Club Annual General Meeting, the Club established a sub-committee tasked with the role of liaising with the Albany Race Club and Albany and Districts Trotting Club.
The three clubs currently share a reciprocal membership arrangement which has worked successfully and have produced annual racing calendars promoting the three clubs activities. The two racing clubs also share barriers, some race-day staff, weighing scales and will provide resources where required.
Opportunities exist for more resource sharing, shared purchasing and joint marketing opportunities across the three clubs.
Marketing Racing in the Great Southern
In October 2002 John Kroeger, Executive Chairman of IER Strategic Planning, presented the ‘Strategic Marketing Plan to Grow a Viable Thoroughbred Racing Industry’ document to local clubs via the Great Southern Development Commission.
The Strategic Marketing Plan focused on joint marketing initiatives between Albany and Mount Barker racing clubs. While the document has not been adopted in its entirety, both Clubs have adopted a number of the recommendations contained within the plan to develop feature events which assist racing to compete with the numerous other forms of entertainment available to the population.
The Grapes and Gallops feature race day, growing in popularity annually, is a marketing strategy identified within the Kroeger Plan. The event is unique in Western Australia and marries premium wines from the region with racing. The Club is working on the potential to expand the feature day to include other products of the region such as gourmet food. Other opportunities include the joint promotion of wild flower and racing, a ‘Kids Day Out’ and ‘Girls Day Out’ (now known as the 'Michelle Parsons - Pink Ladies Day')
The influence of Sky Channel has also exposed Mount Barker nationally and internationally and with the recent inclusion of Singapore Sky Vision it would now seem that the "the skies the limit".
The Club has been involved with numerous industry projects and research over the past five years to identify opportunities to develop long term viability, sustainability and to prosper.
This research coupled with a desire to move forward has resulted in a five year action plan which will see the Club provide new facilities such as an on-course training track, an extension and realignment of the racing track to incorporate a 1,600m chute and on-course stabling. New marketing strategies will also be identified and implemented to improve the Club’s ability to compete in the entertainment market.
The close working relationship with the Shire of Plantagenet, industry leaders and support businesses has given the Club confidence that the plans for the next five years are realistic, achievable and will deliver the desired outcomes.
Vision, Mission, Targets and Key Objectives
Our vision:
To build the thoroughbred racing industry in terms of customers, yields, jobs, participants, training opportunities, economic impact and marketing strategies by performing effectively in the racing business to bring prosperity to the Mount Barker Turf Club and the network of community and corporate organisations that support the Club.
We will pursue our vision by:
- Implementing on-course developments which will attract more trainers to the area (both permanent and seasonal);
- Building strong relationships with adjoining racing clubs;
- Supporting the racing industry by encouraging trainees and apprentices to move into the racing trade;
- Consulting with our customers;
- Competing vigorously in the entertainment business to attract customers back to racing; and
- Supporting the equine industry (and local community) by buying local products and utilising local services.
Our mission:
The Mount Barker Turf Club will become a customer focused club that provides a sustainable business opportunity to racing industry participants and the network of businesses that support racing industry participants, while providing an entertaining product for a wide audience.
Our targets:
· Realign the Mount Barker Racing Track to create a 1,600m chute enabling a full program of races for a range of horse abilities, providing more opportunities for trainers;
· Establish on-course stabling for seasonal horse trainers to reside locally during the southern summer racing season;
· Improve communications between racing clubs in the Great Southern Region and explore opportunities for resource sharing, creation of full time positions, joint marketing opportunities and shared purchasing / tendering.
· Finalise plans for the construction of a sand training track in the centre of the racing track to provide trainers with a year round training facility.
· Construct new Steward / Secretary Office and jockey changerooms;
· Commence & complete the construction of the sand training track on the adjoining land;
· Liaise with other race clubs and profile marketing events in the Great Southern Region to develop a Calendar of Events.
· Develop the four existing feature race days and a marketing campaign to suit each feature day;
· Develop a plan with other racing clubs in the region to address joint purchasing / tendering and resource sharing opportunities; - Increase race day income through the growth of sponsorships, gate-takings, sale of food and beverages, corporate packages and memberships; and
- Two people engaged within the racing industry in job placements or traineeships
- Review public facilities on course and prepare a plan to implement necessary changes.
Key Objectives:
The key objectives in no particular order are: - To develop the race course services to encourage seasonal trainers to the southern summer racing circuit;
- To support the relocation of new trainers to the area with the provision of racing and training facilities and appropriate land zonings to encourage racing based developments;
- To increase on-course attendance at all meetings by increasing the quality of on-course experiences by customers;
- To generate sponsorship to grow the wealth of the Club;
- To operate the Club on a basis of viability and long term sustainability and prosperity
Both representatives from the Club and the Shire President and Chief Executive Officer from the Shire of Plantagenet have met with Executive members from RWWA to discuss the future proposals for the Club at Frost Park.
Indicative support has been given to the capital club developments (constructing a training track, realigning the racing track and on-course stabling) however the Club’s 2008 application for financial assistance to RWWA’s Capital Development Plans to initiate the construction went unfunded.
RWWA has identified the Albany Racing Club as the regional centre for racing in the Great Southern, however the 2001 revision of the South Coast Water Reserve Protection Plan has identified the Albany Racing Club as part of the Priority 1 Water Protection Area. The implications for the Albany Racing Club of the Water Reserve Protection Plan are upgrades to waste management systems and restriction on future plans for growth and development of equine activities.
Developments such as on-course stabling will be very difficult to initiate and manage on a Priority 1 Water Protection Area, therefore providing an opportunity for this type of development to occur for the racing industry at an unrestricted site, such as Mount Barker. Due to the racing schedule between Albany and Mount Barker, trainers that moved to the district would frequent both racing clubs.
Collaboration with the Albany Race Club and Albany and Districts Trotting Club
In 2002 the Great Southern Thoroughbred Racing Industry Taskforce (GS TRIT) was formed under the auspices of the Great Southern Development Commission as a business and community initiative to help revitalise the thoroughbred racing industry.
The then West Australian Turf Club, through the Country Racing Manager Mr Bill Colgan, fully supported the initiative along with other members of the WATC Executive and the Chairman of the WA Provincial Racing Association, Mr Ian Loxton. Members on the GS TRIT committee include Mr Dean Thornton, accountant, Mr Brian Fuller, business identity, Mr Don Perfrement, marketing and promotion adviser, Ms Nicole Selesnew, project officer for the Great Southern Equine Industry Council and representatives from the Mount Barker Turf Club and Albany Racing Club committees.
GS TRIT had the delicate job of supporting the two local race clubs, their management and their committees without usurping their authority. One of the recommendations from the GS TRIT project was the joint management of thoroughbred racing in the Great Southern which was supported by two sub-committees, one tasked with managing the day to day operations of racing in Albany and the other, managing racing in Mount Barker.
The concept of joint management of thoroughbred racing was not adopted by either Club due to the differences in Club goals at the time of the GS TRIT project.
The concept has not been abandoned in entirety. During the 2008 Mount Barker Turf Club Annual General Meeting, the Club established a sub-committee tasked with the role of liaising with the Albany Race Club and Albany and Districts Trotting Club.
The three clubs currently share a reciprocal membership arrangement which has worked successfully and have produced annual racing calendars promoting the three clubs activities. The two racing clubs also share barriers, some race-day staff, weighing scales and will provide resources where required.
Opportunities exist for more resource sharing, shared purchasing and joint marketing opportunities across the three clubs.
Marketing Racing in the Great Southern
In October 2002 John Kroeger, Executive Chairman of IER Strategic Planning, presented the ‘Strategic Marketing Plan to Grow a Viable Thoroughbred Racing Industry’ document to local clubs via the Great Southern Development Commission.
The Strategic Marketing Plan focused on joint marketing initiatives between Albany and Mount Barker racing clubs. While the document has not been adopted in its entirety, both Clubs have adopted a number of the recommendations contained within the plan to develop feature events which assist racing to compete with the numerous other forms of entertainment available to the population.
The Grapes and Gallops feature race day, growing in popularity annually, is a marketing strategy identified within the Kroeger Plan. The event is unique in Western Australia and marries premium wines from the region with racing. The Club is working on the potential to expand the feature day to include other products of the region such as gourmet food. Other opportunities include the joint promotion of wild flower and racing, a ‘Kids Day Out’ and ‘Girls Day Out’ (now known as the 'Michelle Parsons - Pink Ladies Day')
The influence of Sky Channel has also exposed Mount Barker nationally and internationally and with the recent inclusion of Singapore Sky Vision it would now seem that the "the skies the limit".
Precinct Plan for redevelopment of Frost Park & surrounding area.
