As reported previously, Taree Greyhound Club has been given approval by Greyhound Racing NSW to run 13 TAB meetings a year, all on Wednesday afternoons. The club has never previously conducted a TAB meeting.

"The work has already started,'' Taree Greyhound Club president Des McGreachie said.

"They've set a deadline to be finished by late March or early April. But at the moment we don't have a date for when our first TAB meeting will be held.''

He said some projects have already been completed.

"We've finished the work on our kennel block,'' he said.

Mr McGreachie added the refurbishment isn't major and Greyhounds NSW officials are generally happy with the facilities at the Kanangra Drive track. The club has been racing there since 1979.

"This work will get the track up to a certain stage, where we can conduct a TAB meeting,'' he explained.

"There will be more work carried out later.''

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Huge boost for greyhound club

Mr McGreachie said the approval to conduct the TAB meetings is an enormous boost for the club. It comes just four years after the then NSW Premier Mike Baird announced plans to ban greyhound racing in the State. After a public backlash this was later withdrawn.

"This is also good news for our town,'' he said.

"All the work is being carried out by local contractors. And when the (TAB) meetings start we'll be employing more people at the track.''

Taree currently conducts 13 non-TAB meetings a year. The club now is expected to run the five non-TAB meetings in with its successful Easter Carnival.

The club conducted a nine event card last Saturday, where Greyhound Racing NSW directors Kevin Gordon and Annette Mullen were in attendance.

Meanwhile, Member for Myall Lakes Stephen Bromhead, who initially backed the bid to ban greyhound racing, said he is 'pleased to see that greyhound racing will be continued in Taree.'

"The greyhound industry has a big part to play in the greater Taree area,'' Mr Bromhead continued.