A Tunnel Vision Splendid

Sydney Morning Herald

Saturday July 1, 2000

By CRAIG YOUNG

The Australian Jockey Club is confident racing will resume on schedule at Randwick on August13 despite sections of the course looking more like a testing zone for the next generation of smart bombs.

A newly-formed crater at the 800m crossing is home to cranes and earth-moving equipment, invoking images akin to those seen when the war against Iraq Operation Desert Storm was at its height.

Thankfully, the AJC has its own ``Stormin' Norman" in command of the $25million project to redevelop the grand racetrack. Track manager Norman James is the commander-in-chief and his mission is to oversee the most extensive redevelopment in the club's rich history.

``The tunnel sections are being installed as of this very moment," James said yesterday from his bunker at headquarters. ``They have enough sections to do the course proper at this stage [and] there are more coming in today.

``We've only dug up half [of the course] at this stage."

Which is a stunning comment considering the AJC has Sunday, August 13, scheduled for a return to racing at Randwick.

That is six weeks away but ``Stormin' Norman" isn't fazed as his foot soldiers continue to carry out daily missions with enthusiasm and precision.

The elements rain, not dust storms are the only concern but in the fashion of all great generals, James isn't worried about things he can't control.

``It is a big project and the contractors are confident they can achieve our desired dates," he said. ``Everyone's got a bit confused. We've said we'll be back racing on August 13 and everyone thought the tunnels would be completed, but that's not quite correct.

``We'll be about a third of the way through with the tunnels."

The tunnels will provide a safe thoroughfare for racehorses, cars and the machinery used for maintaining all the training tracks, including the recently rebuilt inner track.

There will be entrance and exit tunnels at the 800m mark, each 3.5m high and a little wider to accommodate the traffic flow.

These and a pedestrian tunnel are estimated to cost $12million.

The pedestrian tunnel has proved something of a minefield, with James saying: ``There have been things found in the wrong places. They weren't on any plans anywhere, which is normal when digging to that depth.

``We found a 600mm drainage line. The survey said it went in one direction but it went in another direction it went right across the tunnel."

That put the operation back a couple of days but James is confident the mission, which also includes tearing up the Leger car park and redesigning and moving the saddling enclosure, will be completed on schedule.

Another concern was the water-table underneath Randwick, but seepage has been dealt with by nine pumps working around the clock.

``The water goes into a retention basin and then filters back into the system where it came from or goes off site into the stormwater [drains]," James said. ``They had to do tests on the water before we could discharge it and the water was found to be more pure than Sydney water."

Asked if the AJC had considered moving into the rich bottled water market, ``Stormin' Norman" replied in the fashion of a general destined for greatness: ``I'm not giving all my secrets away."

* TAB Ltd today will take over all on-course totalisator operations at racetracks across the State after acquiring AWA Limited's interests.

© 2000 Sydney Morning Herald

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