Redevelopment

A New Era - The Valley of Tomorrow

The Moonee Valley Racing Club is embarking on a once-in-a-generation transformation, redefining the racing and entertainment precinct.

The Valley has been the beating heart of night racing and home to the legendary Ladbrokes Cox Plate.We are now building on that legacy to create a world-class, 365-day destination that celebrates racing, entertainment, community, and connection.

Our current facilities have served us well, but they have reached their twilight years, a 30-year-old track that needs renewal, lighting systems that are outdated and inefficient, and a grandstand more than 50 years old. At the centre of this vision is a new Event Centre, an architectural landmark overlooking the winning post that will elevate the race day experience and host events year-round in a vibrant, flexible and contemporary setting.

The racecourse development will secure the future of racing at The Valley and will include a new track and offer a broad array of amenity for the benefit of club members, residents, and the broader local community to enjoy. Complementing the development is Moonee Valley Park (MVP), a thriving new neighbourhood featuring premium residences, green spaces, and hospitality venues such as TOTE Bar & Dining. Together, these elements will ensure The Valley continues to inspire, entertain, and bring people together every day of the year.

The Moonee Valley Racing Club is sharing regular redevelopment progress images and updates with the Community to ensure key messages are shared in a timely manner.

ENGAGING OUR COMMUNITY

The Moonee Valley Racing Club (Club)is committed to providing the community with regular updates on the Racecourse Development and working collaboratively with Symal (civil contractor) and Hamton (developer of Moonee Valley Park) to minimise impacts on local residents wherever possible. The activities outlined below align with the endorsed Construction Management Plan.

Here are answers to some of the questions we are regularly asked. If you have a question that is not answered below get in touch with us at development@mvrc.net.au

Get In Touch

We recognise that dust can be a concern to people living adjacent to the redevelopment and in the local area. The topsoil at MVRC is a very fine, low clay mix of silt and sand known as the O and A horizons (see attached image). This material is ideal for supporting racecourse vegetation, but once the grass is removed, the exposed soil becomes more vulnerable to wind and dust generation.

Dust management is a key priority for the project, and a range of suppression measures are in place across the site. These include the regular use of water carts and street sweepers to minimise dust and keep surrounding roads clean. The project team also monitors weather and site conditions closely and adjusts dust control measures whenever dust levels increase or conditions change. As works progress beyond this layer, construction will move into deeper subsoil (the B horizon), which contains a higher clay content and is significantly less prone to producing dust.

Symal wash down all waste trucks and vehicles prior to leaving site, to minimise airborne dust from leaving site and street sweepers are used to keep the streets free of dirt.

The site access points to the project have been determined in consultation with Moonee Valley City Council and traffic analysis, with considerations around peak times. The site entrance to the compound on Wilson Street is for light vehicles only. Heavy vehicle movements must access the site from Gates 6 & 7 off Wilson and Dean Streets, along the private road running parallel to the Tullamarine Freeway. Works are scheduled to occur in accordance with EPA & Council approved times.

There will be a required intersection upgrade at Wilson Street and Juliet Street, that has been determined following extensive traffic analysis and consultation with Moonee Valley City Council. This analysis has considered access requirements for residential properties along Wilson Street, including improving safety and function of movements to such properties and vehicles exiting Juliet Street; the need to limit on-street car parking loss; as well as the need to improve pedestrian and cyclist movements.

Symal’s workforce is required to attend site at 7am to be briefed on the day’s works and ensure they understand how to complete works safely. This early start is part of Symal’s site Health & Safety requirements and is critical to making sure workers are sent home safe after each shift.

Symal crews attending site are mindful that they are travelling through a residential area, and to ensure adherence to local speed limits and traffic management to the approved point of access into the project. As part of the works, Symal are required to regularly check the area for hazards. This includes dirt, rocks and any other debris that may come from the works. In addition, all trucks leaving site are required to clean their tailgate and use dust covers when transporting soil.

The redevelopment includes significant planting along the southern interface of the racetrack to create a buffer adjacent to the new Dean Street shared path and residential context to the south. This planting will incorporate native canopy species to enhance biodiversity and visual amenity. The Club has also committed to a two-for-one tree replacement ratio, with many of the new trees located along the southern boundary in accordance with the approved landscape plan. Additional planting is also proposed south of the new Dean Street shared path to further improve the public realm.

Racecourse Precinct

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Elite Racing Facility – a world-class track and Event Centre tailored for premier night racing and renowned Ladbrokes Cox Plate, premiering world class technology and design excellence in track performance and viewing experiences.

Live, Work & Play Precinct – a walkable, integrated neighbourhood featuring residential, retail, hospitality, and community spaces set amid new public parks set amid the upcoming Cox Place ‘village’.

Public Spaces & Everyday Life – a vibrant infield activated for everyday community use - festivals, recreation, and family gatherings, not just on race days.

Affordable & Connected Living – approximately 3,000 dwellings embedded within expansive green spaces and accessible community amenities, making The Valley a ‘neighbourhood within a park’.

Sustainability & Environmental Leadership – the precinct is Australia's first sports facility to earn full EnviroDevelopment certification, with initiatives including close to 90% water recycling, renewable energy, wetlands, and green infrastructure.

Racecourse Works

The Valley Racecourse Development is set to commence following the 2025 Ladbrokes Cox Plate Carnival

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Track

The new track design, facilities and location will bring fans closer to the action and enhance the iconic amphitheatre experience - The Valley Roar

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Horse Stalls Enclosure

A purpose-built horse stall precinct will provide state-of-the-art facilities for trainers, strappers, and jockeys, enhancing equine welfare and racing operations while offering visitors a closer connection to the sport

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Event Centre

The Event Centre will operate seven days a week, positioning The Valley alongside Melbourne’s most iconic venues. With capacity for major race days, functions, exhibitions, and community events, the Event Centre will become a beacon of entertainment in the city’s north-west

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Hotel

The precinct will provide a premium hospitality, dining, and accommodation offering, extending the Valley experience beyond race days and into a year-round destination for visitors and the local community

Infield

We are exploring a mix of facilities that will support passive and active recreation across three key groups - our Members, Moonee Valley Park residents and the broader local community

MOONEE VALLEY PARK

Moonee Valley Park is a joint venture between developer Hamton and leading industry superannuation fund Hostplus, in partnership with Moonee Valley Racing Club (MVRC).

The $3 billion redevelopment of Moonee Valley Racecourse will transform the 40ha site into a botanic-inspired residential landmark, and the new premium neighbourhood of Melbourne’s inner north. Once complete, Moonee Valley Park – which is designed to be a neighbourhood within a park - will encompass approximately 3,000 dwellings across a highly walkable ground plane, complete with resident amenities, retailers, cafes, restaurants, playgrounds, sporting fields, running tracks, set amongst 20 hectares of abundant green open space.

Moonee Valley Park launched to the market in August 2019 and has since delivered five completed stages comprising a total of 479 residences, landscaped parklands Tote Park, Maple Walk, Stonepine Square and TOTE Bar & Dining – with the first residents having moved into their new homes in 2022.

For more information head to the Moonee Valley Park website.

Background

In 2009, MVRC announced its intention to realign the iconic Moonee Valley Racecourse, relocate the grandstand to the northern boundary, and release 23 acres of freehold land for a residential development. The planning framework was agreed in March 2015 to enable a new grandstand and racetrack utilising the racecourse landholding to facilitate the building of a mixed-use residential and community precinct on approximately nine hectares of land. In late 2017 MVRC selected award-winning developer Hamton and Australia’s leading superannuation fund Hostplus as the Moonee Valley Park (MVP) residential development partners.

The Moonee Valley Racecourse Master Plan for the Special Use Zone (SUZ) was prepared in 2020 to inform the future sub precinct applications for the new grandstand, racing infrastructure, and infield activations. Between 2020 and 2023 Moonee Valley Park (MVP) Stage 1 was delivered including residential stages: Feehan Row Homes & Townhouses and Thomas Street apartments, and the opening of TOTE Park and TOTE Bar & Dining.  Moonee Valley City Council unanimously approved planning permits for the Event Centre (grandstand) and Hotel (clubhouse) in the northern precinct in 2023.

Symal was appointed as the redevelopment civil and infrastructure contractor in June 2025, with early works commencing in preparation for the racecourse closure following the 2025 Ladbrokes Cox Plate. MVP Stage 2 was completed in 2025, welcoming residents into Trackside House and Stonepine House. The two buildings comprise 330 residences surrounded by landscaped parklands, including the Residents Garden, Maple Walk, and Stonepine Square.

From November 2025, Symal have progressed the infield site-clearance works in preparation for the reorientation of the new track and Mann Group is undertaking the grandstand deconstruction.

TOTE PARK

Our 5,000sqm civic park was delivered in November 2020. Tote Park is one of the cornerstones of the vision for Moonee Valley Park, a new neighbourhood set within a grand botanical garden. Tote Park offers 67 new mature trees, 315 shrubs and around 4,000 groundcover plants. Tote Park, designed by Tract Landscape Architects, features open grassy lawns with serpentine gardens, nature-inspired playground for families and stunning flower beds where visitors can relax in the sun or the shade, unwind and get active.

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Tote Bar & Dining

Positioned overlooking Tote Park in front of The Valley is TOTE Bar & Dining. The heritage-listed building was built in 1938 as one of the earliest surviving examples of a totaliser betting facility. The building has been protected and restored with a sympathetic yet striking renovation to become an exquisite bar and dining venue and is proving incredibly popular amongst locals, racegoers, and those seeking an exceptional dining experience.

The refurbishment and re-imagination of the historic Tote building was completed in July 2021, with TOTE Bar & Dining launching in August 2021.

From project inception, MVRC’s guiding principle has been to preserve and enhance the heritage character of the original Tote building, which has unique stature and significance in Australian racing history.

The revitalised structure complements and directly interfaces with the new Tote Park, creating a contemporary dining, recreation and community precinct at the main entrance to The Valley.

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Moonee Valley Racing Club respectfully acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of this land – the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung people of the Kulin Nation – and pays our respects to its Elders past, present, and emerging.

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