Ready to roar

ALL that stands in the way of Pakenham’s $25 million motorsport complex and world-class karting facility is the tick of approval from the Federal Government.
Plans have been released for the multi-million dollar development on the McGregor Road site, a partnership between Cardinia Shire Council and Drew Engineering which the Pakenham Auto Club believes would put the town on the map.
The council anticipates that the facility would bring tourism, big business and investment to the shire as well as a much-needed new home for Pakenham Auto Club and the Kooweerup and District Motorcycle Club.
It is also hoped that clubs in Melbourne would hire the venue over similar tracks at Phillip Island, Sandown or Calder. Cardinia Shire mayor Brett Owen said the Federal Government would need to approve the “environmental aspects” of the site as well as how much of the 128-hectare parcel of land would be able to be used for the major development.
Once the development receives the rubber stamp, construction could begin as soon as this year, to be completed by January 2016.
“This is a long-awaited facility which would accommodate our two local auto clubs,” Cr Owen said.
“Once we get approval, which we are hoping for in the next few weeks, we will know how much of the land we can use as well as the environmental conditions on the site.”
The facility would be able to host state, national and international karting events as well a three-kilometre main circuit for cars and motorbikes for driver training, club competitions and motor-related research.
The project has received bi-partisan support from the State Government, Victoria Police, TAFEs and motorsport bodies.
Glad Fish from the Pakenham Auto Club said the most important aspect for her was the fact that it would give kids an opportunity to learn how to handle a car.
“Once they have their driver’s licence, these kids just have to worry about all of the other idiots on the road,” she said.
“It is important that we get the motorsport complex so that we don’t have teens doing burn-outs on the street, they can show off or whatever you want to call it, under controlled circumstances.”
Ms Fish said while there would be some who didn’t support the plan, the complex would be an “asset to the community” and an educational venue for young people in the shire for driver training.
She said her involvement in motorsport helped keep her aware and conscious on the road.
“This is going to be very nice for people out in Gippsland and it will be incredible for the town and the shire,” she said.