Canberra Racing treasurer Duncan Edghill has resigned just days after a plan to demolish Thoroughbred Park was published, citing a "perceived conflict of interest" because he also works for the ACT government.
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That's despite the club having their procedures surrounding potential conflicts of interest on the board ticked off through an independent review last year.
Edghill was one of a number of high-profile public servants on the board, both past and present, with the club in the middle of a proposed $2 billion redevelopment of the precinct at Lyneham.
They lodged the Territory Plan Variation with the government more than a year ago as they look to become financially self sufficient.
Edghill declined to talk to The Canberra Times.
He is the boss of the ACT's infrastructure department, Major Projects Canberra, and was previously in charge of the first stage of light rail.
The government and the racing club have previously dismissed concerns about a conflict of interest with his dual roles.
Canberra Racing board member Nikki Pulford also works for Major Projects Canberra, while Liz Clarke, who's also on the board, was the former head of Venues Canberra.
Edghill resigned after Canberra Racing were blindsided when the government released their development strategy for the inner north, which included an option to kick the race track off the land and redevelop the entire site.
The document also included Thoroughbred Park's own plan to redevelop the land around the race track with a mixture of residential and commercial buildings.
Canberra Racing chairman Les Boag said Edghill had done the right thing by both the club and the government by standing down.
"Given Duncan's role in ACT government and recent developments, he has voluntarily resigned from the committee to avoid any possible perceived conflict of interest and this morning I accepted his resignation on behalf of the club," Boag said.
"I would like to thank Duncan for his tireless, dedicated and valued efforts as treasurer and committee-person and wish him all the best for the future."
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Boag revealed the club conducted an independent review into their procedures surrounding any potential conflicts of interest last year.
Their lawyers had cleared the club of any problems.
"We just reviewed them legally last year, we went into a lot of detail to check that our conflict of interest [procedures] were very strong," Boag said.
"But with the recent developments obviously the potential for conflict of interest increases and therefore Duncan has done the absolute right thing by the government and us and stood down.
"I'm really sorry Duncan has stood down, but he's done the right thing by the government and the club."
Boag said there were no concerns surrounding Pulford's role with Major Projects Canberra.
She's their ministerial, governance and corporate support executive branch manager.
Boag said she would continue to leave the room when any matters involving the government were raised.
"No, she's not at a strategic level, she's not being briefed on the strategic things and we've checked that out and that's not an issue - definitely not an issue," he said.
"She's not involved in strategic planning at that level. We have checked that out and Nikki's not compromised in any way.
"But we have very strong conflict-of-interest processes ... and there's no question we are now beyond question.
"Whenever any issue comes out at our committee meetings that involved the government, Duncan and Nikki used to leave the room so we would discuss it and we would call them back in afterwards.
"Nikki will still do that so there can be no conflict of interest."
Boag said the board would decide at their next meeting, on November 29, whether they would replace Edghill or continue on with nine members.
They will also elect a new treasurer.
It's believed in the past the board has brought on whoever had the most votes out of those who missed out on election at the annual general meeting, which was held three-and-a-half weeks ago.
"Our constitution actually says we can decide as a committee whether to appoint a replacement or just continue on with nine members," Boag said.
"At our next committee meeting we will consider that. Duncan was the treasurer so at our next committee meeting we'll elect our next treasurer."
Boag was focussed on working with the ACT government on the redevelopment as well as getting a fairer percentage of the point-of-consumption tax.
While the government has one of the highest PoC taxes in Australia, it also provides the smallest percentage of that to the racing industry.
"I think despite everything we've got the potential to go ahead and make good arrangements with the government and get racing back up," Boag said.
"We've obviously got to get a fair share of the point-of-consumption tax, but apart from that we will just continue working with the government.
"We will put a lot of effort into making sure we do work well with the government.
"We're very fortunate to have a great CEO aboard - Darren Pearce is doing a fantastic job and that will be a great help to us for the future."
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