12 February
Phar Lap Raceway has been given a refurbishment by offenders on community work sentences thanks to Community Probation & Psychological Services (CPPS).
“Community Work sentences require offenders to do unpaid work in the community for non-profit organisations as reparation for their offending. Helping renovate the raceway is a good way for the offenders to provide free assistance and helps improve a community focus point,” says CPPS Service Manager Kevin Foley.
“The work party refurbished major parts of the raceway. They repainted the 'birdcage', the adjacent building, and the grandstand; they replaced all railings and painted them; repainted the grandstand seats and scrubbed down all the concrete.”
They also shifted a fence line on the outskirts of the raceway; removed unused posts from an adjacent paddock; and improved the gardens with hours of hedge trimming and gardening.
“The workload of the offenders steadily increased leading up to the unveiling of the Phar Lap statue with work parties undertaking many hours of community work at the raceway each week,” says Mr Foley.
The project started in January 2009, and during early November as the opening neared, 16-17 offenders worked on the grounds several times a week.
Mr Foley says that the offenders were very mindful of the close presence of horses grazing in the paddocks and took care not to scare them whilst working.
The work project for offenders at the raceway will continue on an ongoing basis, with regular monthly visits to keep it well maintained.
“By keeping community work teams involved we can help maintain the racetrack in a good condition and ensure patrons enjoy this great facility,” says Mr Foley.
Each year New Zealand communities benefit from almost three million hours of labour supplied through offenders serving their community work sentences.
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