Club’s dam good idea to save racing in Geelong

Andrew Mathieson
A NEW dam to “drought-proof” Geelong’s race course could secure the sport’s future in Geelong, according to officials.
Limited rain in recent years have forced cancellation of several Geelong race meetings, raising concerns for the industry’s longevity in the region.
Geelong Racing Club chief executive Paul Carroll said the threat had forced investigation of harvesting stormwater for the course.
The club was now close to completing a new holding dam near the Breakwater track, Mr Carroll said.
“We think stormwater harvesting is the way of the future,” he said.
“The water than runs out of the river to the ocean is not impacting on anybody, so what we’re doing is using that water to drought-proof the racecourse.”
Mr Carroll said the club study had found that a nearby drain collected 230 megalitres of stormwater a year, more than double the course’s watering requirement.
Geelong racing authorities had obtained a licence for 100 megalitres.
Mr Carroll said the dam could save the club $100,000 a year in rising water costs.
“It’s going to be a significant cost-saver as we move into the next decade,” he said.
“It will save the club a lot of money because we don’t have to purchase the water for a start.”
Mr Carroll said the 50-by-20-metre holding dam was opposite the Geelong Showgrounds and north of the racecourse next to the open drain.
A pumping station inside the dam would draw water through pipes and under the road to three larger dams inside the racecourse.
Mr Carroll said the club would begin using the new water source within a month.
The club installed an all-weather thoroughfare track in 2008 to combat drought.