Site not suitable

IT IS hard to comprehend that Sports Minister James Merlino and Gembrook MP Tammy Lobato are continuing with a feasibility study for a Cardinia Motor Recreation and Education Park (previously called a motorsports facility) on the VicRoads owned land off Oakview Lane to the east of Ryan Road (Gazette, 6 May).
This land has been investigated before on several occasions and each time residents have voiced their objections only to have it reappear – and now this has happened again.
The indicated aim of the current study is to create a “motor car/motorcycle club level racing circuit”, a “world class karting circuit” and a “driver training skid pan”.
It is claimed that these facilities could be used to support educational programs and attract business opportunities.
This proposed Motor Recreation and Education Facility should not be built on the VicRoads land for the following reasons:
Noise: This is a major concern for adjoining residents. The noise levels of the area have recently been increased by construction of the Pakenham Bypass. These noise levels will further increase if the motor sports facility is constructed. The site is adjacent to existing residential areas and it can be expected that these residential areas will, in the future, be extended toward Nar Nar Goon and would surround the site. It is interesting to note that an earlier report rejected all sites that had residences within 1.5 kilometres.
Access: Because of Government regulation (no new level crossings) and VicRoads freeway requirements (no access allowed from the bypass) the only existing access available to the site is Oak View Lane (as a result of this the site is about eight kilometres by road from the Racecourse Road/Bald Hill Road roundabout). Access from Ryan Road can only be achieved if an additional underpass is provided under the bypass.
It is suggested that the cost of building access to site whether via Oakview Lane or by some other means could be better used purchasing easily accessible land of the right size further from Pakenham.
Zoning: As at the 11 June the Cardinia Planning Scheme shows the site zoned as GWZ1 Green Wedge Zone. This zoning does not allow motorsports as a use. Adjoining residents have an expectation that this zoning will remain or at least, if rezoning becomes necessary, that a similar zoning will be made that will not impact on their enjoyment of their properties.
Environmental issues: The many environmental issues identified in the Environmental Impact Statement for the bypass will also apply to this site. These include the matted-flax lily, an endangered plant species present on site, the growling grass frog, contamination of the waterways and replacement of trees.
Available land: Reports suggest that the VicRoads site is too small for the proposed facilities. If it is, is it wise for our government to construct a second-rate facility now and then in the future have to find another site for a better larger facility when selection of a larger site free of restrictions now would allow a small facility, built on a the larger site, to be extended later (as has happened at Eastern Creek in Sydney) for minimum cost? Note that the Eastern Creek site in Sydney occupies 90 hectares has no facilities for go-karts and is remote from residential areas.
Considering all of the above issues it is suggested that the shire/government would be well advised to seek a more suitable site a little more remote from the rapidly growing town of Pakenham.
Norman Crook,
Nar Nar Goon.