Call for 'under-utilised' racecourse to host Show

Percy Spencer Racecourse could be the new home of the Albany Agricultural Show after a call from Albany Racing Club to make use of the "desperately under-utilised" facility.

The club has begun negotiations with the City of Albany and the Albany Agricultural Society to potentially house the society and show, or some community groups associated with the society.

Centennial Hall, the society's current home, is to be demolished as part of the $42 million Centennial Park sporting precinct redevelopment.

According to Albany Racing Club manager Mal Cameron, the racecourse could house groups including the Albany Men's Shed, Albany and Districts Poultry Club, Albany Pigeon Racing Club, Albany Photographic Society, the Veteran Motorcycle Club, Relay for Life and Albany Cake Decorators using the machinery shed, dome, pavilion and offices.

He said the land could also be a site for the Centennial markets and caravan, camping and boating shows.

"The City of Albany need to provide alternatives for the user groups and the key to us is that we use this facility 14 days out of 365 days a year — it's desperately under-utilised," he said.

"We recently hosted day two of the National Cross Country Championships and they loved what we have got.

"The site would be suitable to host the show, although the society are keen to keep it quite central."

Albany Mayor Dennis Wellington said the construction period for the Centennial Park sporting precinct would take years, so there was an opportunity for the racing club site to temporarily house some groups.

"Long-term, we are still looking at accommodating the society at Centennial Park, but short-term the site could be used by the society," he said.

At a council meeting in July, it was moved that City staff would help find alternative homes for the 30 community and sporting groups using Centennial Hall.

However, it was also moved they work with the design team so the Albany Show could remain at Centennial Park.

Albany Agricultural Society secretary Paul Higginson said the society would not comment "at this stage" as they finalised negotiations with the City.

Mr Cameron said the City executive management visited the racecourse two weeks ago and said they would help any groups who were keen with a move to the site.

He said the club needed to broaden its business base.

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