What is the future of Auckland's Avondale Racecourse?

More than 130 years of horse racing is coming to an end at Auckland's Avondale Racecourse. with the final race day set for next Wednesday.

But locals are worried about the future of the 35-hectare site, which also has a number of well-used community sports fields and a weekly market.

Avondale Jockey Club acting president Andrew Skinner said club members are looking forward to the final day on 15 July, and celebrating the milestone of 136 years of racing on the track.

But no more races on the calendar edged the club closer to transferring its ownership of the land to industry governing body New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR).

NZTR has the legal authority under the Racing Industry Act (2020) to declare the track surplus, in a process intended to channel racing club funds from under-utilised land to the wider industry.

Skinner said the club was doing its best to get a good outcome for everyone.

"Whilst the club is the caretakers, and as the legal owner, the community will have 10 sports pitches and there'll be enough room for the markets. But as soon as the dynamic changes, what is a developer going to do to the land?"

The uncertainty has some West Aucklanders worried.

Whau Local Board chair Kay Thomas said the council paid about $400,000 a year to lease the sports fields.

"That is a regional asset those sports fields for a number of codes, and sports teams come from over a lot of Auckland, so it's not just for the Whau."

Thomas said part of the land was a crucial sponge that prevented flooding in the area.

"If it was covered in housing, it would make flooding around Avondale much, much worse, so we would like to see part of the racecourse converted for storm water management.

"Our concern is that if it is just sold for development, it could be piecemeal and not really fulfil the needs of the community."

Thomas said the decisions over the racecourse's future were ultimately for those within the racing industry.

"We are just hoping that if it is sold, then that Auckland Council is in a position to buy it."

An Auckland Council spokesperson said the council was considering its options relating to Avondale Racecourse, and talking to stakeholders.

"No decisions have been made as yet and any proposal that involves funding will need to go through the council's long-term plan process."

In a bid to ensure local voices were heard, residents and groups formed the Avondale Racecourse Alliance.

Co-ordinator Jaclyn Bonnici said the alliance commissioned consultants to produce an expert-informed blueprint for the site.

"We've been trying to set an agenda, which is to say that if you were to be informed by independent architects, urban designers, climate experts, stormwater engineers, this is what the land wants to be.

"And that's what we lay out in the People's Plan, that the land wants to continue to be a multi-use space, sport fields, ngahere, river access, and a good 10 hectares of built development," Bonnici said.

"One of the main points really that they landed on was that the racecourse will, as a multi-use, predominantly open and recreational space, will enable and support the densification that's coming, and some of it's already here."

A submission by NZTR to Auckland Council's proposed Plan Change 120 to encourage intensive housing development showed the industry body wanted the entire site rezoned for buildings up to 34.5m high.

NZTR chief executive Matt Ballesty said no final decisions had been made regarding its future ownership or use.

Ballesty said NZTR recognised the significance of the racecourse to both the Avondale Jockey Club and the wider West Auckland community.

"We continue to engage directly with key stakeholders, including Auckland Council, as discussions progress. Should any future proposal proceed through statutory planning or consenting processes, those processes will provide opportunities for community input where required."

Skinner said the club was working with NZTR and the NZ TAB advisory committee on options for the future, including the possibility of operating on a smaller footprint to free up funds for the industry.

Skinner said he expected to see the report - with short- and long-term options for the club and the land - at the end of the month.

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