Council chief Nigel Bickle stressed that no decisions have been made, and the council role now is to independently manage the legal process, assess the applications under the relevant legislation, and hear from the community before making any decisions.
“This is a private proposal that has been lodged with Council, and no decisions have been made,” he said in a statement.
“Our role is to ensure there is a fair and transparent process, and that the community has the opportunity to understand the proposal and have a say.”
Three separate but related applications have been lodged:
• A private plan change (rezoning the site from Plains Production and Open Space to Stadium Zone and Racecourse Precinct) to enable the racecourse and related activities;
• An application to purchase council-owned land known as Ramsey Crescent Reserve;
• An application for an easement over part of a reserve at the end of Flaxmere Ave to provide access to the proposed development.
Under the private plan change application, the council will consider matters including traffic, noise, lighting, water infrastructure, effects on neighbouring properties, cultural and environmental values, and how the development would look and function within the surrounding area.
An architectural image of race day at the new course that Hawke’s Bay Racing hopes will be built to open in time for the Spring Racing Carnival in 2029.
Bickle said it was important that people understood they could comment on any or all parts of the proposal.
If approved, the private plan change would not automatically allow construction to begin, for further approvals, including resource consents, building consents and engineering approvals, would still be required.
People can review the proposal and make submissions on the plan change and reserves applications online at https://www.myvoicemychoice.co.nz/hdc/
It can also be done by completing a paper submission form at Hastings, Flaxmere or Havelock North libraries, or by posting submissions to Hastings District Council, Private Bag 9002, Hastings 4156.
The applications propose that, if successful, earthworks would start in November this year and, with further building consent and engineering approvals, construction could start in July 2027.
Doug Laing is a Hawke’s Bay Today reporter, with more than 50 years’ experience in journalism, the last 39 consecutively covering events and issues in Hawke’s Bay, since starting a second stint with the Daily Telegraph in Napier in 1987.