The redevelopment will replace the existing 36-year-old circuit.

Club manager Ken Bennett last night confirmed that the project had been approved by Greyhound Racing Victoria. He said he expected works to begin towards the end of next summer.

Bennett said the club had originally planned to go into recess this month for the installation of a new steel running rail, but talks with GRV led to the project being shelved in lieu of a new racetrack.

“We need a new track. It’s going to take us to the next level. It’ll be magnificent,” Bennett said.

“GRV realises that we’ve got a pretty big business here and you’ve got to maintain the correct facilities.

“You can’t just leave them go.

“You’ve got to update them,” he said.

Bennett said that with the club’s ongoing support of GRV – it has hosted Friday night meetings during Geelong’s track redevelopment and will soon pick up Monday fixtures while Bendigo is upgraded – it was only fair that Ballarat had an overhaul.

“We’re racing twice a week and we host probably 400 trials a week,” Bennett said.

“We’re in a pretty key position in greyhound racing. People support us from all over Victoria.

“Once Geelong opens up they’re going to be the jewel in the crown, but we’ve got a challenge to maintain our level here as well.”

The new track will be wider than the existing layout and will include an electronic watering system.

It is expected that its construction will force the club’s racing program to go into recess for about three months.

Bennett said the four race distances of 650m, 550m, 450m and 390m would be similar in the new design.