December 22 2023
MVRC Grandstand and Clubhouse Precinct wins unanimous council backing
The Moonee Valley Racing Club can now unveil plans for the redevelopment of its Grandstand and Clubhouse precinct, with planning permits unanimously approved by the City of Moonee Valley. The announcement follows permit approval for the redevelopment of the existing racetrack and infield earlier this year.
The permit approval will allow for the development of an 83-room boutique residential hotel situated on levels three to five of the new six-story clubhouse. The hotel floorplate will feature a mix of room layouts and sizes to attract a broad demographic of local and international guests.
A rooftop bar will be situated above the boutique hotel on level six of the clubhouse. In accordance with the precinct permit, access to the rooftop bar will be limited to Club members and hotel guests, along with guests invited to functions hosted by the Club at the venue for functions. It has been designed to comply with relevant EPA noise regulations, sited away from street interfaces with acoustic screening proposed along Thomas Street and Wilson Street.
The residential hotel, wellness centre and all new hospitality offerings will be owned and operated by MVRC, in line with the MVRC’s repositioning as a sports, entertainment and community precinct.
A wellness centre will be situated on the Ground Level of the approved Clubhouse, including a gym, outdoor lap pool and change facilities. The wellness centre will be accessible to racegoers and local members of the community, as part of the MVRC’s overarching master plan strategy to appeal to a broader customer base beyond racing.
A new Grandstand building has also been approved within the permit, which will feature new bars, dining areas, terrace seating and private suites for racegoers and Club members. The multi-storey building will be activated primarily for racing days and events.
“The approval of the Grandstand and Clubhouse precinct permit provides certainty to the Moonee Valley Racing Club’s redevelopment and delivering of the Club’s repositioning as a mixed-use sports and entertainment precinct,” said Moonee Valley Racing Club’s CEO Michael Browell.
“Through the inclusion of a residential hotel and wellness centre, the Club can open its doors to public visitation 365 days a year and ensure its legacy as part of the local landscape for years to come.”
Designed by Cox Architecture, the Grandstand and Clubhouse precinct will become the focal point of the broader community focused redevelopment, located on the southern side of Wilson Street, the northern side of Dean Street and the western side of Citylink.
Traffic congestion has been considered within the permit application, with 166 additional carparks for racegoers, staff and community members incorporated into the basement levels of the Grandstand and Clubhouse. Dean Street remains the primary vehicle entry point to the racecourse, with pedestrian access primarily via the infield and secondary access through Thomas Street.
“Since the announcement of the redevelopment, there has been lots of community interest in the future of the racecourse land and the impact of the development on the local community.”
“With certainty now received from the City of Moonee Valley and construction commencing in November 2025, we’re taking this time now to focus on delivering a well-considered delivery sequence,” Mr Browell said.
In a string of significant milestones, the MVRC became the first Australian sports precinct to receive full EnviroDevelopment accreditation for the Racecourse Precinct in November 2023. A whole-site approach to environmentally sustainable design will see nearly 90 per cent water recycling of the racetrack’s irrigation system and a commitment to 100 per cent renewable power.
Construction of the Clubhouse and Grandstand precinct is programmed to commence after the 2025 Cox Plate, with completion anticipated in time for running the 2027 Cox Place.
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