Moonee Valley
Racecourse

Project Description

This mixed-use development comprising apartments, townhouses, retail, hotel, offices and entertainment venues is being built on a landholding of 9 ha that the Moonee Valley Race Club (MVRC) own. Moonee Valley Park has been designed to create a benchmark in neighbourhood living with extensive green landscaped and open recreational spaces. Additionally, the MVRC will be responsible for the construction of a new Grandstand Precinct, community and event space, in the Infield, new racetrack and racing facilities. The investment value of the total project is in excess of $2Bn over 15 years.

Role

In 2016, David was appointed on a 3-year fulltime contractas the MVRC’s Head of Development. During his time there, he was responsible for implementing numerous strategic initiatives ultimately resulting in the successful selection of a preferred development partner for the MVRC. This key activity set in place the implementatio
n of a financial platform to meet the Club’s long-term objectives.

David also ensured that early groundwork done through personal stakeholder engagement with the Council executive and the local Resident’s Group created a more positive and responsive back ground for both the MVRC and its development partner to establish long-term community engagement plans.

Prior to the completing his role at the MVRC, David initiated a transition strategy which included assistance in establishing an internal development and project management team with necessary skills to work through the complexities involved in managing an operational racing and events business amidst the construction impacts of a major project development.

Challenges

The greatest challenge during the process of sourcing and selecting a preferred development partner was the absolute imperative ensuring due diligence findings and information exchange was clear, relevant, consistent and most importantly, confidential between the MVRC and individual prospective partners.