Firebrand Independent State MP Mark Latham is the latest politician to come out in support of bush Greyhound Racing rallying against plans by its governing body to rationalise dropping tracks at Coonamble, Broken Hill, Wagga, Moree, Young and Kempsey.

‘’This is too much too soon, the sport is a lifeblood of the battlers,’’ Mr Latham told NSW Parliament.

‘’You don’t see Deloitte (the company who authorised a report to Greyhounds NSW) at Wentworth Park at all . The sport has reformed since the post Baird Government controversy.’’

Mr Latham wants a delay and pause on Greyhound Racing NSW's re-work of its optimisation plan to cull the embattled sport’s widespread bush tracks.

Nationals MP Michael McCormack also has spoken out about the report.

"This is a stupid ill-conceived report and why should country communities keep getting it in the neck?

"Lack of road funding, doctor shortages and now they want to close our country dog tracks.’’

Barwon MP Roy Butler says he has taken the issue to NSW Minister for Racing David Harris on the looming closure of Coonamble and Broken Hill.

Greyhounds NSW says while Deloitte’s analysis indicated that the optimal number of racetracks for NSW is 12.

Locals rally behind Coonamble Greyhound Club President Graham Pickering when the cuts were first announced in May 2024. [IMAGE: Coonamble Times]

The report recommends a staged implementation plan, which once implemented will result in 15 racetracks forming part of the NSW racing footprint.

“Greyhound Racing NSW has been in contact with all of the clubs which will be impacted by the optimisation recommendations,” GRNSW Chief Executive Officer Steve Griffin said.

“We have spoken at length about the process and why their respective clubs sit where they are in the optimisation recommendations.”

The optimal footprint is based on supporting the current number of race meetings held across the State and ensuring that each of the regions has at least one track to support the demand in that region.

The first tranche of implementation will see all of the state’s non-TAB tracks at Coonamble, Kempsey, Moree, Potts Park, Tamworth, Wauchope, and Young close by the end of 2025.

There is an opportunity for each to become a trial track if desired by the club.