Motorsports study

By Melissa Grant
The Cardinia Motor Recreation and Education Park, if given the green light, will generate more than $5 million a year and provide employment for 60 people.
Casey-Cardinia Motorsports Committee chair, and Gembrook MP, Tammy Lobato has welcomed the feasibility study, saying it will give the facility the best chance to “get off the ground”.
“As the chair of the motorsports committee, I have received a proposal which deserves to be thoroughly investigated,” she said. That proposal, seen by the Gazette, has earmarked a parcel of VicRoads-owned land off Oakview Lane, east of Ryan Road, for the development of a regional motorsports facility.
It would include a main circuit and world-class karting circuit, as well as a driver training skid pan.
The proposal already has the support of the Cardinia Shire Council, Confederation of Australian Motor Sport (CAMS), Motorcycling Australia, Chisholm Institute and Pakenham Police.
The Cardinia Shire has put forward $13,500 for the feasibility study, while go-kart manufacturer Drew Price Engineering will contribute $26,500.
The announcement of the study comes as the future of council-owned land used by local auto and motorcycle clubs looks uncertain.
The Cardinia Shire Council has refused to commit the land on McGregor Road, Pakenham, to a long-term plan until VicRoads decides whether to construct a road right through it to connect the Pakenham Bypass and Kooweerup interchange.
Kooweerup and District Motorcycle Club president Mick Brook said the McGregor Road set-up was restrictive and was excited about the prospect of a regional venue.
He said it had taken about 18 years to get the McGregor Road facility up and running but there was no point investing in it when the length of the club’s tenure was uncertain.
“We could jazz the place up a bit, but we only have a 12-month permit each time,” Mr Brook said.
“If this state thing (motorsports facility) gets up and going we would love to pump money into that.”
Ms Lobato said it was important to determine that the facility was sustainable and had the support of the community.
Residents living on and near Ryan Road vowed to halt plans for the facility last July, after the Gazette revealed the Casey-Cardinia Motorsports Committee’s intentions to utilise the VicRoads-owned land near Oakview Lane.
A CAMS report, commissioned by the State Government, has previously identified the south-east region of Melbourne as one of the top two priority areas, along with Geelong, for a motorsports facility.