Media Release
19 September 2009

The Barrabool Rural Protection Group today welcomed the news that both Motorcycling Australia and the Surf Coast Shire had decided to defer the application to rezone McAdam Park for 60 days, to enable consultation with residents.

“It became clear during our community meeting on Monday night, with 60 residents in attendance, that the proposal to re-zone this land was based on some highly questionable premises”, spokesperson Paul Morgan said. “Residents are delighted that both Motorcycling Australia and the Surf Coast Shire have listened to our request for the re-zoning application to be deferred. In the circumstances, it is the only logical way forward”.

Mr Morgan said that residents welcomed the new consultative approach which has been adopted following the entry of Motorcycling Australia to the project. “To date, we have had to search for information about what was proposed because we have been totally excluded from this process by the authorities”, he said. “Motorcycling Australia has signalled a different approach, which we welcome – the first thing we need is up-to-date information and we can then have a sensible discussion about the implications of the proposal and the potential alternatives for the sport”.

Mr Morgan confirmed that residents remain firmly opposed to any re-zoning or development of the site. “Residents have tolerated motorcycling on McAdam Park, on a small scale, for decades. It is an entirely unsuitable site, however, for any development. There are very clear environmental and social reasons why the proposed increase in scale and activity cannot proceed. The decision by state and local governments to contribute to the purchase of such a valuable piece of land appears to have created an imperative to increase its use so that value for money can be demonstrated, but the problem is that any increase in use is unsustainable in the Barrabool Hills”.

“Residents will use the time available following this deferral to ensure all parties – Motorcycling Australia, Surf Coast Shire, the City of Greater Geelong and the State Government – understand the impost on residents and the environment created by the current use of the site and the fact that any further development would be both inappropriate and unsustainable. Alternatives need to be identified that allow the sport to thrive without placing an intolerable burden on a small rural community and a fragile rural environment”, Mr Morgan said.

For any enquiries please contact the BRPG:
Phone: 03 4201 0270
Post: PO Box 1772, Geelong, VIC, 3220
Email: enquiries[at]brpg.com.au

Tags: barrabool, Information, meeting, News

Media release
14 September 2009

About 60 people who attended a public meeting in Barrabool on Monday night expressed their anger at plans to develop McAdam Park into a major regional motorsports facility. Surf Coast Shire Mayor Libby Mears and Councillors Lindsay Schroeder, Dean Webster and Brian McKiterick heard residents express their disbelief at the scale of the proposed development, which Council officers confirmed spreads over a 300 acre area and involves multiple new tracks and infrastructure. The meeting overwhelmingly supported, without dissent, a motion strongly objecting to the proposed development.

Liberal candidate for the federal seat of Corangamite, Sarah Henderson, was applauded when she stated that while she supported the concept of a motorsports complex in the Geelong region, she questioned whether it was appropriate to locate such a facility in the Barrabool Hills. She also questioned the process by which the substantial public investment in the project had been achieved, without any community consultation.

Residents welcomed the offer of CEO of Motorcycling Australia, David White, to consult with the community and seek a mutually agreeable outcome. Mr White advised the meeting that the business case which had been the basis for seeking funding from state and local government was over-ambitious in terms of profit projections and needs substantial revision. Residents in turn questioned why Motorcycling Australia and state and local governments had invested more than $2 million in a project which has little chance of achieving any reasonable return. Mr White agreed it was time to ‘draw a line in the sand’ and advised he wished to consult with the community so as to achieve a mutually acceptable outcome. He agreed to seek the views of the board of Motorcycling Australia this week on the meeting’s request to halt the re-zoning application. Residents agreed, in turn, to consider Mr White’s suggestion that only 100 acres of the available 300 acres be subject to a rezoning application.

A motion asking Surf Coast Shire to halt the rezoning application, pending consultation with the community and better assessment of environmental and social impacts of the proposed development, was passed with overwhelming support and no dissent.

For any further enquries please contact the BRPG:
Phone: 03 4201 0270
Post: PO Box 1772, Geelong, VIC, 3220.

Paul Morgan
Ian Kelly
Heather Wellington
On behalf of the Barrabool Rural Protection Group

Tags: barrabool, meeting, News

Public meeting to discuss the impact of a proposed  major motorsports complex in the Barrabool Hills

7.00 pm, Monday 14 September,
Barrabool Cricket Club Rooms, 20 Cochranes Road, Ceres

The State Government, the City of Greater Geelong and the Surf Coast Shire have allocated more than $2 million to support the purchase of land as part of a multistage development of a major regional motorsports complex in the Barrabool Hills.  The total project cost is $7.9 million.

The complex will cover 300 acres adjacent to working farms and residences.  Media reports suggest it will be used 4 days per week.  There are concerns that it will generate large amounts of traffc through Ceres and Barrabool, noise, dust and  litter and have a very signifcant adverse effect on  the environment,  farming businesses and community wellbeing.

There was no community consultation prior  to  the announcement of government  support, even  though  the proposal is contrary to the current planning scheme.  A rezoning application is now being processed by Surf Coast Shire.

The purpose of  the meeting  is  to  inform  the community of what we know about  the proposal and  to develop a strategy to ensure our MPs and councillors hear our concerns prior to further funding being allocated or a planning amendment being approved.

Please call the Barrabool Rural Protection Group (phone 03 4201 0270) to register your interest.

Don’t Bulldoze Barrabool

Download Invitation to Public Meeting

Tags: barrabool, invitation, meeting, News