The pony club is concerned the expansion will interfere with the running of its monthly pony club rallies on the site owned by the Harness Club and next to the trotting club’s grounds in Melbourne Rd.
Last week the Harness club said there had been some discussion with the pony club about the $1.5 million project, but the current and former presidents of the pony club said they were not told and the only way they learnt about the detail of what was being done, was through the City of Greater Shepparton planning department in January.
The Harness Club has built new stables in the redevelopment, which the pony club says are too close to the pony club area.
The pony club is now casting about for an alternative venue.
Carolyn Young was pony club president for about six years until last year and said the club had limited contact with its landlords, the harness club, and it was not told about the scope of the building works on the land.
She had relinquished her position when her son left the club, and the subsequent president also said the harness club had not explained what was happening, until they discovered through the council.
“In my 10 years at the club, there was not one mention of this development,” Mrs Young said.
She acknowledged the sand arena, now very close to the new stables, was not built on the leased land, but also said it was built with the permission of the harness racing club decades ago.
Former pony club executive Darelle Backway said it was time the Shepparton community got together and created an equestrian centre to cater for the range of clubs represented in the region, before they were lured away to other centres, such as Elmore.
“I’m concerned that these clubs will be lost to the area unless we can find a suitable venue,” Ms Backway said.
The pony club is seeking an alternative venue and can be contacted through its facebook page.
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