john legend 735 Report post Posted August 17, 2021 What the ? The experts close it down now want to know what to do with it !!!. ......Will make following suggestions.... , An entertainment centre including a casino/hotel/sports academy/TAB /restaurant AND what about a harness racing track with support and good dates in a great location and with the other activities/in a growing population region what a winner . Too logical. Yes of course. Hutt Park needed council to do nothing for 15 years so maybe in 2036 there will finally be something positive come of "blinkered" thinking. meomy 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tasman man 742 Report post Posted August 17, 2021 11 minutes ago, john legend said: What the ? The experts close it down now want to know what to do with it !!!. ......Will make following suggestions.... , An entertainment centre including a casino/hotel/sports academy/TAB /restaurant AND what about a harness racing track with support and good dates in a great location and with the other activities/in a growing population region what a winner . Too logical. Yes of course. Hutt Park needed council to do nothing for 15 years so maybe in 2036 there will finally be something positive come of "blinkered" thinking. I suspect you never been there John ! The venue is only one sandhill from the South Pole ,in aa area expected to be under water before too long . There has never been many harness horses trained in the area and former good dates were never capitalised on. There has been 20,000 plus students in the town for decades but few venture to Forbury even though a few minutes by car. The former strong thoroughbred training area nearby has declined significantly as well. If you want students to attend build the cheapest liquor store in town. The 'new' rugby stadium and International cricket ground is all on the other side of the Octagon ,the University end. The Cadbury factory closed ,the beaut train station has no trains...maybe the Albatross colony and Lanarch castle could be moved there. The city is well served by golf courses. The most admired horse in the area is on the roof of Arthur Barnetts ! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
meomy 971 Report post Posted August 17, 2021 1 hour ago, tasman man said: I suspect you never been there John ! The venue is only one sandhill from the South Pole ,in aa area expected to be under water before too long . There has never been many harness horses trained in the area and former good dates were never capitalised on. There has been 20,000 plus students in the town for decades but few venture to Forbury even though a few minutes by car. The former strong thoroughbred training area nearby has declined significantly as well. If you want students to attend build the cheapest liquor store in town. The 'new' rugby stadium and International cricket ground is all on the other side of the Octagon ,the University end. The Cadbury factory closed ,the beaut train station has no trains...maybe the Albatross colony and Lanarch castle could be moved there. The city is well served by golf courses. The most admired horse in the area is on the roof of Arthur Barnetts ! @tasman man Most areas of New Zealand have been prone to covered in water at some stage as that's nature. It was only in the 1950's when the word tsunami ( a word of Japanese origin) was started to be used internationally, the era of Trade Agreements between Japan and the USA. Prior to that water on land events were called Sea Waves, Ocean Waves, tidal waves, streams and rivers flowing onto to the land from Climatic Change of Summer to Autumn to Winter and Spring Believe me, we have read much world history in that incredible Papers Past resource that Internal Affairs have positively put online for our Betterment... It's great to look up where floods, droughts etc have occurred in one's regions to learn from and they all go back to the same weather patterns as almost to the date they occurred as weather is influenced by the moon and sun positions to. Such a shame we no longer have real soil ditches and drains for water flows , nor Water Bores/ Springs like we used to across all of New Zealand because it sure would make it a better overall environment to live in. Those plastic and concrete underground pipes just don't cut the mustard. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
meomy 971 Report post Posted August 18, 2021 1 hour ago, john legend said: What the ? The experts close it down now want to know what to do with it !!!. ......Will make following suggestions.... , An entertainment centre including a casino/hotel/sports academy/TAB /restaurant AND what about a harness racing track with support and good dates in a great location and with the other activities/in a growing population region what a winner . Too logical. Yes of course. Hutt Park needed council to do nothing for 15 years so maybe in 2036 there will finally be something positive come of "blinkered" thinking. Get the locals back on track with their horses on the racecourse before all the dog owners do offleash.. Some of these things need to go back to a baance of all people's requirements not just one portion of society. Make sure you put submissions in as individuals and as a collective. Locate earlier Historic records as we have shown in our contributions here in Racecourse and share those links around for your area. Reach out to relations who have long been involved in Racing, including Sponsors and be pro-active to get Racing back in our Rural Communities where they need Social interaction for the Betterment of Public Health, Mental Well being and Society tasman man 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JJ Flash 2,115 Report post Posted August 18, 2021 2 hours ago, tasman man said: The most admired horse in the area is on the roof of Arthur Barnetts ! I thought that it had been removed but could be wrong Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
john legend 735 Report post Posted August 18, 2021 T Man, you suspect incorrectly, been many times . used to stay in Tahuna. motorcamp. Can drain the swamp (who said that ?) .even many racecourses needed proper drainage . My home was in an original wet area. but all this is incidental to what can be done these days. Across USA failing courses have been revived with lateral thinking but no doubt we will see a new mega mall and carpark and a few extra houses or commercial activity tasman man and meomy 1 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
meomy 971 Report post Posted August 18, 2021 @john legend You hit the nail on the head, there's a reason why homes were built on blocks of wood and in later years concrete, and others on concrete slabs. It all goes back to water and the type of lands, which as we know used to be swamp or Marshlands until some boffin decided to call them Wetlands. New Zealand doesn't need any more blasted Shopping Malls, besides, why are these local and Government Bodies and those associated with the Building industry not showing Leadership by making the most of restoring or renovating existing stocks of Buildings we already have? One can't help but question why the heck a country like NZ and outfits like GREENSTAR who claim to be looking after the environment build with some Green type materials and enclose Green spaces which we all used to have access to and enjoy. Look up the projects they have worked on including Mercury Energy Building which we have effectively paid for out of Public Monies. One fudge up after another by greedy unaccountable 'developers' who see quick easy Government and our funds. john legend 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
john legend 735 Report post Posted August 18, 2021 The question of temperature and other natural impediments to quality harness racing, you only need to look at other countries to see how they cope almost 7 days a week through heat and of course freezing temps.Canada and northern usa often put ploughs out between races in winter to pile snow up. and Australia often have to remove birds and kangaroos from tracks (not to mention floods,snakes , bushfires. As long as facilities are undercover,good food and refreshments and heating most punters /owners/HR enthusiasts will come if combined with other entertainment as above.The old huge concrete stands are 100 years out of date and need demolishing. Hutt Park which I visited on a nostalgia trip recently has a new look Sporting Academy,upgraded accomodation retained a soccer facility,golf combined and and is only about 1.5 metres above hightide.The strange thing with a complete upgrade There would still be IMHO room for a trotting track.As mentioned earlier After our last race there in around 1996. so many discussions were held by Council govt that nothing happened for over 10 years . JJ Flash and tasman man 1 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tasman man 742 Report post Posted August 18, 2021 3 hours ago, john legend said: T Man, you suspect incorrectly, been many times . used to stay in Tahuna. motorcamp. Can drain the swamp (who said that ?) .even many racecourses needed proper drainage . My home was in an original wet area. but all this is incidental to what can be done these days. Across USA failing courses have been revived with lateral thinking but no doubt we will see a new mega mall and carpark and a few extra houses or commercial activity Good for you John...it would be picky of me to say it is the Tahuna Park motor camp you stayed at...Tahuna or Tahunanui is in the Tasman/Nelson area. My friend used to play rugby for Pirates club which is close to Tahuna Park and Forbury...Pirates used to have All Blacks in its ranks but now it cant field a senior team.He worked at the Iconic Beach Hotel but sadly that now flattened. His father worked at the Hillside Workshop on coal fed trains but sadly that gone and they loved going to the iconic Carisbrook ground for big rugby and cricket matches but that too bit the dust despite an outpouring of grief from locals. As for Dunedin growing its growth has been sedate to poor for at least 15 years....Otago's growth has been in Central Otago and Queenstown. I googled famous races in Dunedin and the Jaffa [the candy ] race on Baldwin street came up. Even google has forgotten Show Gate, Baghdad Note ,Great Sensation,Indianapolis and The Fiery Ginga ! And famous Dunedin people threw up David Bain and Brendan McCullum...I think the latter lives in Matamata. Most other prominent Dunedin folk I checked up live in Queenstown ,Wanaka or further afield. Somehow it becomes obvious that Dunedin will not lead a resurgence in Harness Racing ....its a University city with a lot of character and a lot of people pass thru it fleetingly ,either for Education or a nice stay at the Holiday Park , near the beach [ with the ice-cold water and odd shark !] Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
john legend 735 Report post Posted August 18, 2021 again T man your reliance on google lets you down. (as my memory may be failing)but of nil interest to harness racing I did stay in the Camp (excellent) at St Kilda beach just down the road. for oldies also rowed for west end and went to champs at Lake Waihola a few times. or was that lake in nelson?lol Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JJ Flash 2,115 Report post Posted August 19, 2021 19 hours ago, tasman man said: My friend used to play rugby for Pirates club which is close to Tahuna Park and Forbury... Not Bill Haig by chance? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tasman man 742 Report post Posted August 19, 2021 1 hour ago, JJ Flash said: Not Bill Haig by chance? Haha...I actually had a few at Pirates. Possibly around that same era...on one occasion I remember going to watch them play a visiting team from King Country who had one CEMeads still playing ,and my friend got very stroppy at one stage and methinks this could be interesting but Big Colin was near the end of playing career and just laughed it off ! JJ Flash 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JJ Flash 2,115 Report post Posted August 23, 2021 Council to weigh up flood risk at Forbury The latest from ODT The back straight at Forbury Park after flooding in June 2015. PHOTO: CHRIS ALLISON Past flooding at Forbury Park highlights the risks of future development at the former trotting club site, the Otago Regional Council warns. The words of caution were made in a staff report that will be given to councillors during a full council meeting tomorrow. The full council meeting will be held online using Zoom, to keep participants safe under Alert Level 4. During the meeting, staff will seek councillors’ approval of a draft submission to Harness Racing New Zealand’s public consultation on the future of Forbury Park. After more than 100 years of harness racing in St Kilda, the park closed last month, following a New Zealand Racing-commissioned review recommendation. The council’s draft submission reinforces its position on future development at Forbury Park, which was agreed on during a council meeting in May. The position was that future developments required “very careful” consideration of natural hazards and should take into account the likely changes to the physical environment, including the effects on groundwater for the long term, meaning 100 years and longer. The council also endorsed the examination of opportunities to use the site to mitigate flood hazards for the wider South Dunedin area when considering any proposal for redevelopment. A precautionary approach that identifies, assesses and manages the risk by using avoidance and adaptive management should be used, the draft submission said. Council staff said Forbury Park, located in St Kilda, was an area considered “at risk” from sea-level rise due to climate change. “During the June 2015 South Dunedin floods, Forbury Park experienced significant ponding which highlights the risks.” Staff said it was the council’s role to influence and support good decision-making to ensure Otago’s communities were resilient to natural hazards and could adapt to climate change. If a decision cannot be reached by Harness Racing New Zealand and the Forbury Park Trotting Club, the Minister of Racing will be required to make a decision about how Forbury Park is to be used in the future. Submissions close on September 14 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
2Piper 404 Report post Posted August 24, 2021 Who would want to buy a problem site if flood mitigation is required ? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
meomy 971 Report post Posted August 24, 2021 Wetlands, once upon a time Swamp and Marshlands hence it's not suitable for building houses on and the stands and other buildings are raised on Concrete platforms. Leave it as a Racecourse and get some out of work builders to restore it back to being a functioning Racecourse. Does anyone know who was party to The Forbury Park Land Company? Maybe bring this info to the descendants of this Company from days gone by. The reopening of Forbury Park https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/OW19020702.2.86.5 Forbury Park Lease https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/STEP19240723.2.17 Offer to Sell Forbury Park https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH19080409.2.82 Offered to Dunedin Corporation by The Forbury Park Land Company https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/EP19080408.2.114 Forbury Park Racecourse 1899 https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WCT18991020.2.13.5 Forbury Park Land Company articles are in here https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers?phrase=2&items_per_page=10&snippet=true&query=Forbury+Park+Land+Company From 1881 - Dunedin Jockey Club meeting https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/OW18810709.2.51 tasman man 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
eljay 1,711 Report post Posted August 26, 2021 Hey, Forbury would be perfect for a Race Course yes?? JJ Flash 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tasman man 742 Report post Posted August 26, 2021 On 8/25/2021 at 12:11 AM, meomy said: Wetlands, once upon a time Swamp and Marshlands hence it's not suitable for building houses on and the stands and other buildings are raised on Concrete platforms. Leave it as a Racecourse and get some out of work builders to restore it back to being a functioning Racecourse. Does anyone know who was party to The Forbury Park Land Company? Maybe bring this info to the descendants of this Company from days gone by. The reopening of Forbury Park https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/OW19020702.2.86.5 Forbury Park Lease https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/STEP19240723.2.17 Offer to Sell Forbury Park https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH19080409.2.82 Offered to Dunedin Corporation by The Forbury Park Land Company https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/EP19080408.2.114 Forbury Park Racecourse 1899 https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WCT18991020.2.13.5 Forbury Park Land Company articles are in here https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers?phrase=2&items_per_page=10&snippet=true&query=Forbury+Park+Land+Company From 1881 - Dunedin Jockey Club meeting https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/OW18810709.2.51 Meomy, I read your paperspast posts with interest.....however I doubt few do cos they from a bloody long time ago ! Had to laugh at the one about the rugby folk objecting to a lease for use to rugby league. As recent as the 1970's the Otago Rugby folk used to send their spies to the few Rugby League games at Ellis Park ,Kaikorai looking to find Rugby players playing the enemy code so they could slap a life ban on them. So many of the league players assumed false names to avoid expulsion or the attention of the police as they on 'wanted' lists. Meomy I wonder what your passion is....is it as a historian , an environmentist/greenie ,a racing lover or do you just not trust any one . That is anyone from the first immigrants to NZ who set up the rules of the land ,and developed our cities and towns. And again ,are you a member of any racing club and do you take your questions /concerns to the racing clubs AGM's ? JJ Flash and Stables 2 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JJ Flash 2,115 Report post Posted August 26, 2021 16 hours ago, tasman man said: So many of the league players assumed false names to avoid expulsion or the attention of the police as they on 'wanted' lists. That reminds me of a few Otago Uni rugby players in the late 70's who changed names so they could play Rugby on Saturday and League on Sundays. Although against the rugby clubs rules this continued for a while before both players were named in NZ Uni league team. Naturally embarrassed they both pulled out, retired very quickly and resumed their rugby careers. One in particular went a long way both as a player and coach tasman man 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tasman man 742 Report post Posted August 26, 2021 1 hour ago, JJ Flash said: That reminds me of a few Otago Uni rugby players in the late 70's who changed names so they could play Rugby on Saturday and League on Sundays. Although against the rugby clubs rules this continued for a while before both players were named in NZ Uni league team. Naturally embarrassed they both pulled out, retired very quickly and resumed their rugby careers. One in particular went a long way both as a player and coach Exactly.....probably thinking of some of the same people ! It was a life -ban ! Plus my friend Roy used to report the league for the papers and when he asked for team lists and try scorers names he was given names like Joe Ninety ! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JJ Flash 2,115 Report post Posted August 27, 2021 2 hours ago, tasman man said: Exactly.....probably thinking of some of the same people ! It was a life -ban ! Correct. I thought it was hilarious at the time but they showed real fear when recognizing the shit they were in. tasman man 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...