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New plastic running rails developed and produced in Victoria will be rolled out across the state as part of the Brumby Labor Government’s commitment to racing safety, Deputy Premier and Minister for Racing Rob Hulls said today.
Mr Hulls said the new running rails would be installed at 25 regional and rural Victorian racetracks during the next 13 months as part of the $2.3 million project.
He said the contract for the rails was awarded to Victorian firm Global Barrier Systems, who has sub-contracted the rail manufacture to Aluminium Profiles Australia (APA) in Dandenong.
In addition to APA, other specialist components of the rail will be provided by a range of other manufacturers, including Pro-Plas (extrusion) in Cheltenham and Microplas (injection moulding) in Dandenong.
Mr Hulls said the announcement would support at least 30 local jobs.
“These plastic running rails were developed here in Victoria, they are being built in Victoria and soon about 60,000 metres of them will be installed at racetracks across the state,” he said.
“The safety of jockeys and horses is paramount to a healthy racing industry and, once installed, these new plastic rails will ensure the greatest standard of safety for race participants anywhere in Australia.”
The Brumby Labor Government is contributing more than $2 million to the plastic running rails project through the $86 million Regional Racing Infrastructure Fund. Racing Victoria Limited (RVL) and Country Racing Victoria are jointly contributing $231,500 to the project.
Mr Hulls said Mordialloc plumber Dan Mawby, who invented the new plastic rails system called MawSafe, had made a significant contribution to the Victorian racing industry. Mr Mawby was recently awarded the ‘Best Design for Workplace Safety’ in conjunction with RVL and engineering firm, Delta-V Experts, at the 2009 Victorian WorkSafe Awards. The MawSafe Rails also featured last year on the ABC ‘New Inventors’ program.
Mawsafe rails are plastic, as opposed to aluminium, and are lighter than previous running rails, making the installation a simpler and safer process.
“Mr Mawby’s idea has not only helped create safer racetracks in Victoria, but helped provide valuable work for industrial employees and local companies,” Mr Hulls said.
“Global Barrier Systems and Aluminium Profiles Australia are producing the parts for this system here, ensuring Victoria benefits from production which would otherwise take place overseas.
“This is a great Victorian story of industry, innovation and sport all combining strengths for the good of racing and jobs for Victorians.”
Racing Victoria Limited chief executive Rob Hines said the invention of the plastic running rail had revolutionised the safety of both jockeys and horses.
“The safety and wellbeing of our industry participants and horses is RVL’s number one priority and the introduction of plastic running rails is a landmark initiative,” Mr Hines said.
“I would like to commend Dan Mawby for his outstanding foresight and design of the plastic running rail and look forward to this product being rolled out at racetracks across the state. |
