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The People's Plan is presented at the Mayoral Forum held by Te Ohu Whakawhanaunga at St Matthews in the City. Afterward, the plan is also emailed to the mayor, Wayne Brown, and key Councillors.
In response to the statements from NZTR CEO Matt Ballesty, ARA release a press release - Robbing Peter to Pay Paul.
A letter is sent to the Minister for Racing, Winston Peters, outlining the community's extensive use of the racecourse and a proposal for its future use.
Avondale Racecourse Alliance holds a public hui at Haven Foundation, Auckland to present The People's Plan for the Avondale Racecourse and to seek community feedback and support. There are 200 attendees.
The People's Plan is presented at the Mayoral Forum held by Te Ohu Whakawhanaunga at St Matthews in the City. Afterward, the plan is also emailed to the mayor, Wayne Brown, and key Councillors.
The People's Plan is emailed to the Minister for Racing, Winston Peters, to formally put a community stake in the ground, pursuant to Section 23 of the act.
NZTR's CEO Matt Ballesty joined The Guerin Report sharing plans for the monies that will be raised by the sale of Avondale Racecourse, being used to help bolster a proposed Waikato greenfields development.
The Resource Management (Consenting and Other System Changes) Amendment Act 2025 comes into law as part of a broader resource management reform. It allows Council to withdraw PC78. In its place, it must notify a new plan change enabling greater height/ density around City Rail Link stations. New plan changes to be completed by 31 March 2026.
· ARA presents to the broader AJC membership.
· AJC, ARA, ABA follow up online July 29th
· Memorandum of Understanding between AJC and NZTR expires without resolution.
Whau Local Board holds a workshop with ARA to further discuss the intricacies of the racecourse land transfer.
A meeting with ABA & KC, ARA, NZTR reps + AJC exec reps shows the AJC/NZTR relationship to be antagonistic.
ABA engages a King’s Counsel (KC) to assist with communicating Avondale’s interests to NZTR.
AJC exec holds its first official community meeting, by invite only, to discuss its MOU with NZTR. It confirms its previously made desire to retain a “legacy park” for Avondale.
Our community collective - now named Avondale Racecourse Alliance (ARA) makes a deputation to Whau Local Board requesting support in fighting for the best outcome of the racecourse land transfer.
Clr Kerrin Leoni meets with Fletchers CEO Steve Evans, along with WLB & community reps - on April Fools Day!
PC78 submitters present views to an Independent Hearing Panel. Motu Design speaks to the concerns of the Avondale community - the need for integrated planning that considers natural hazards, stormwater management, and community engagement. Due to concerns about natural hazard risks, Council pauses PC78 for residential areas and starts work with the government on a better approach.
AJC signs a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with their governing body New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR) the collaborative process to discuss and finalize an agreement on the racecourse’s future.
I Love Avondale holds a public meeting @ Haven Foundation to further seek community feedback on development options.A ‘core group’ of organisers form as a collective to progress this work.
ABA engages local urban development company Motu Design to prepare a document ‘Avondale Racecourse: Future Possibilities’ to get feedback from stakeholders on future development options.
The hearing date for the PC78 is notified - the first time the Avondale Business Association (ABA) has heard of it. It immediately holds a public meeting at Browne St to discuss community concerns.
Cyclone Gabrielle causes severe damage across the North Island, highlighting the vulnerability of communities to extreme weather events.
The Avondale Jockey Club (AJC) makes a submission to the PC78 to rezone its entire 35 hectares to a Terraced Housing and Apartment Buildings (THAB) zone, facilitating higher-density residential development.
Auckland Council notifies of the PC78 Intensification Plan Change under the Resource Management Act 1991,allowing just one month for submissions. It is Council’s response to the government's National Policy Statement on Urban Development 2020 requesting all cities to find ways to intensify housing mandating increased housing intensification near rapid transit stops,
The Racing Industry Act 2020 passes into law giving the Minister for Racing stronger oversight powers and allowing for the closure and land transfer of the “surplus” racecourses.
It is also considerate of existing community use.
Our community collective presents the Motu Design document to Auckland Council's Policy and Planning Committee, who seem largely uninformed about the potential land transfer.
The Messara Report recommendations form the backbone of The Racing Reform Act 2019 restructure.
Peters announces he has engaged Australian John Messara to prepare an independent report on New Zealand racing.
The Messara Report is released recommending the institution of a new racing Code and a reduction in the number of thoroughbred racetracks from 48 to 28 tracks. AD Racecourse on the chopping block from the get go!