Search stalls for motor sports site

By Paul Dunlop
A PUBLIC motor sports facility looks increasingly doubtful for Pakenham or elsewhere in Cardinia Shire.
CaseyCardinia Regional Motor Sports Facility Working Party chairman and Cardinia Shire mayor Garry Runge last week said all possibilities in the area had been exhausted.
Councillors and officers from the City of Casey and Cardinia Shire have worked over several months to investigate suitable local sites.
Cr Runge said the joint council working party had run out of options.
The declaration came as Cr Bill Ronald accused his Cardinia Shire colleagues of being “blatantly antimotor sports”.
At Tuesday’s council meeting, Cr Ronald said his colleagues had done virtually nothing to locate a home for groups such as Pakenham Auto Club, Berwick GoKart Club and Kooweerup Motorcycle Club.
Motor sports user groups also expressed concerns about the lack of success in the search, saying they were losing members because of ongoing uncertainty.
Councillors said they had done all they could.
Cr Kate Lempriere said the antimotor sports statement was “nonsense”.
Other councillors, including Graeme Legge, Doug Hamilton and Helen Ward, also said Cr Ronald’s claim was untrue.
Cr Runge said it was disappointing the council’s working party had been unable to find a site for a regional facility, but emphasised it was not through a lack of trying.
“This council did make a genuine effort to support motor sports groups and find a facility in this region,” he said.
“We have not been able to do so.”
The council is yet to officially close the door on the bid to establish a facility for the hundreds of keen motorbike, car and gokart enthusiasts in the area.
Gembrook MP Tammy Lobato is also working to find a motor sports facility for local users.
But Cr Runge said land considered suitable for a facility had so far proven unavailable or was inappropriately zoned.
The Pakenham sewerage farm and other land owned by South East Water were among the sites recently declared off limits.
“If a benefactor donates a block of land that would be something, otherwise there is no land suitable for a motor sports facility in Cardinia Shire,” Cr Runge said
There is, however, still a chance a private facility could be established on Pakenham’s outskirts.
The Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal is scheduled to consider the application, by Wayne Maslen, next Wednesday, 12 October.
Cardinia Shire councillors have refused to support Mr Maslen’s application, a move prompting Cr Ronald’s criticism.
Cr Ronald had argued that backing Mr Maslen’s bid would at least give some glimmer of hope for a solution to the problem.
“It may fill a gap in the short term and provide some offroad facility,” he said.
“We all know there’s a problem.”
Councillors said Mr Maslen’s application was underprepared and lacked sufficient detail.
There were said to be significant concerns about the impacts of his proposal on the surrounding area and about issues such as access and noise control.
Cr Ward said landholders in the area had already expressed concern about the proposal.
The council was told G. and K. O’Connor meatworks, a significant employer in the region, had also expressed concern about the impact on its operations.