As part of an effort to boost the business, the club will host a meeting open to all at 5:30pm on Tuesday, July 6 at their trackside bar and bistro.

The last 18 months have been a rollercoaster for the Stawell Harness Racing Club with a series of challenges testing the organisation, but a new board of management has been created to guide the club forward.

Board chairman Geoff Sanderson said this is an exciting time for the club as it sets up a strategic and business plan to establish clear plans for the future of the club for the local community.

"We are looking for community input into how the club goes forward and what possible things we could do for other clubs and organisations in the region," he said.

"It is a good opportunity for a lot of people and groups to come along and share their ideas.

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"We need to know not only from the racing committee, but from local community groups, local businesses and local government what facilities we can offer or plan to build.

"With the facilities we have we should be able to help more local groups with meeting rooms or look at building more facilities so we can help the wider community."

In February the club was hit with a series of challenges including technical problems, staffing changes and another COVID-19 lockdown, which forced the club to shut its door briefly.

During this time Harness Racing Victoria has lent a helping hand, assisting the Stawell Racing Club complete a thorough review of its operations to assess what would be the best way forward for the club's racing and gaming business.

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In the review it was proposed that a board of management be established to help run the club and allow the racing committee to continue to get back to the core business of planning and running race meetings.

As a first step the board has established a strategic plan and business plan that incorporates all key participants and also community groups that can use the facilities in the future.

The board has been able to establish funding to develop this plan that will be prepared by SED Regional Advisory Group from Ballarat.

Some potential ideas the board are looking into include building another function room and developing the sports bar and the gaming room.

To provide input or to register your interest in attending the meeting contact the club on 03 5358 1237.

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