A last-ditch effort to stop a major subdivision on the edge of a historic racecourse has been rejected by the Tasmanian Civil and Administrative Tribunal.
Developers have spent four years trying to create 44 residential lots on a 6.2-hectare site next to the historic Longford Racecourse.
Opponents argued that squeezing 1,200 square-metre properties onto the rural site would ruin the streetscape and viability of what, they said, was the oldest continually running racetrack in the country.
However, the Northern Midlands Council granted a permit for the subdivision in November and a tribunal appeal was dismissed this week.
Developers Carlton and Peter Dixon said the tribunal's decision was a "vindication that this is a sound development that takes into account its location and the demand for housing".
"It really would've been a bitter blow had a couple of anti-progress people stopped it for the town," Peter Dixon said.
"So, thank goodness, common sense prevailed."
The Dixons said the appeal had delayed the project by six months and they wanted to complete it as quickly as possible.
Opponents silent on defeat
The Longford Cup has been a town tradition since 1845 and was where Tasmanian racehorse Piping Lane claimed victory in 1972 before taking the Melbourne Cup later that year.
Some locals were concerned the subdivision would gobble up land used for stables and feared the racecourse would eventually be forced to close, like others across Australia that had been boxed in by houses.
The two residents who launched the tribunal appeal declined to comment on their defeat as they evaluated their options.
Northern Midlands mayor Mary Knowles said she could "totally emphasise" with those "passionate about the history of the racecourse" but said there was a clear need for residential blocks.
"We haven't got enough houses for the families [who] are looking for homes. So, absolutely, it needs to happen but in a nice way," she said.
The council believes the racecourse can co-exist with the housing development and has developed a master plan for the site in conjunction with TasRacing.
The multi-million-dollar plan includes 84 stables with day yards, a polo field, an equine pool, bull ring, an undercover equestrian centre with parking and four large pavilions for events.
While the project is not fully funded, TasRacing said it was "keen to ensure the ongoing viability of the racing centre at Longford" and would continue to work on the redevelopment.
Racing lovers champing at the bit
Dennis Pettyfor has been racing horses for three decades and was one of the locals concerned about how the subdivision might impact the racecourse.
"I wasn't against the development. I was against the size of the blocks. I thought the blocks were too small," he said.
"The racetrack is going to survive and the development is quite obviously going to survive and so they will have to work together."
Now that the tribunal has paved the way for the subdivision, Mr Pettyfor is keen to ensure the proposed upgrades to the racecourse become a reality.
"To me, [the master plan] looks fantastic and the information I get from jockeys and trainers and people around the place, they are all excited about it too," he said.
"But it hasn't been started yet and when it will be started, we have to know."
The developers believe both racing and homebuilders have a bright future in Longford.
"It will have no impact at all on the racecourse and we certainly wouldn't do it if we thought it would have any impact," Peter Dixon said.
"My brother and I, we grew up out here on a farm. Our family has been out here for 100 years and we have very fond memories of the Longford races."
