Turf club designs unveiled

Punters have one more reason to get excited about the future of racing after the Town of Port Hedland council approved concept designs for a new Port Hedland Turf Club last week.

The plan is based on the council's resolution to retain the turf club on its current site, with a phone survey conducted in July 2012 finding residents were also in support of the proposal.

But despite excitement mounting over the prospect of a new state-of-the-art facility, turf club president Arnold Carter warned the project was yet to secure funding.

"We had a big input into the proposal, and we think it's a very good proposal if it goes ahead … the only thing that worries me is the timeline," he said.

Mr Carter said the club was planning to make a proposal for funding through Royalties for Regions.

"It's merely a projection," he said.

"Where the funding is coming from for the next stage is the next $64,000 question because R4R funding is getting harder and harder to get now.

"I think a lot of the money is going back to the metropolitan area and I think it's going to be harder for us to get money of that nature."

Mr Carter described the current facilities at the turf club as "derelict".

"They won't last down there for much longer," he said.

"But it's such a beautiful spot down there, it's an iconic place, the racecourse itself - over 100 or so years of history.

"A new club would be great not only for the racecourse but it would make it more of a country club, not for us alone."

Mr Carter said the venue could be used by community groups such as Port Hedland Cricket Association, Port Hedland Pony Club, the South Hedland Owners and Trainers Association and Port Hedland Golf Club.

"It could become a regional centre for sporting bodies and that's the way I like to think about it," he said.