I spent three hours on the phone today with Michael Radley, the CEO of Gloucester Park, and based on what I have been told I have come to the conclusion that the story I wrote earlier regarding the sale of parts of the track land was wrong.
Mr Kevin Jeavons had no part to play in the decision to award the contract for the sale of the land to WA’s largest property developer Hesperia, a company that his son Kyle of the 5 Directors of.
Jeavons Sr declared a conflict of interest immediately that discussions with Hesperia began circa 2 years ago, and stood himself aside from all meetings that were held about the matter, and all of the decision making processes. He was not privy to any confidential documents or material pertinent to the matter.
The club had been in discussions and negotiations with two major Australian property development companies prior to commencing talks with Hesperia. The latter company only came into the frame after the proposals made by the first two companies didn’t meet the needs of the club.
All negotiations with Hesperia have been conducted at arms length by the club engaged independent expert named Hamish Beck, a highly respected Western Australian businessman who is the Chairperson of the board of the Rottnest Island Authority (think Quokkas), and of the Swan River Trust, among other things.
An independent valuation of the club land was conducted by the international expert company KPMG.
This valuation is subject to commercial in confidence provisions.
No-one from or associated with Gloucester Park is getting a kicker.
RWWA is contributing just under $25 million for racing infrastructure associated with the project, which includes moving the finishing pole to what is currently the back strait, and banking both turns to accommodate it.
It is not possible to increase the circumference of the track, for any such move would negatively impact upon the commercial proposition, and anyway there is no room.
Plus WA people identify with and love half mile track racing, just like the trot people of Kentucky, USA do love the Red Mile. With some luck the new banking of the GP turns might allow their horses to run as fast.
There will be no sprint lane.
They are Western Australians. I have no more to add.
Harness racing will continue unabated during the period of the track construction, apart from a 6-8 week period during which GP racing will go into hiatus while new infrastructure is built.
Our previously expressed opinion that WA racing will be transferred to the boondocks has been rebuffed by the club. This land sale and development is the central plank in a strategic plan to ensure the good health of harness racing in the state for the next 30-40 years.
WA Government representatives have indicated that there will be no developer contribution fees levied against the club, and that as such it will not have to pay any.
Based on what we have been officially told, the whole thing is tickety boo.
In any event, it’s all a long way from Port Douglas.
We apologise to both Mr Kevin Jeavons and to Mr Kyle Jeavons for any inference that the sale of the GP land was crook, and for any damage caused by our error. We refute absolutely any negative inferences that may have been drawn.
The sale is not crook, and neither men are getting any benefit from the transaction other than that they might otherwise enjoy on normal commercial terms. The whole thing is for the benefit of harness racing, and now that we understand that we applaud it.
We wish the Gloucester Park Club (WATA) every success with their plans, and hope that they continue to thrive and succeed.
With a bit of luck in the future, perhaps they might even be able to produce some national Grand Circuit horses that were not bought out of New Zealand.
Don’t hold your breath on that one.
The plans for the track’s future sound good though.