By Jessica Anstice
A $200 million world class motorsports complex in Pakenham is set to be completed within the next two years.
Development plans for Cardinia Motor Recreation and Education Park was officially given the nod of approval by Cardinia Shire Council on Monday 9 December.
The 128 hectare McGregor Road site will be home to a 3.6km race track – capable of accommodating V8 Supercars – a drag straight, pit facilities, a 1.4km rallycross circuit, driver education and experience centre, 900 metre go-karting circuit, 50,000 square metres of spectator viewing and grandstand areas, a sport shooting range, and vehicle storage buildings.
To complement the state-of-the-art facility, a trackside hotel will be the key component to the complex’s infrastructure. The accommodation will enable guests to obtain views out over the racing circuit and may range in height from two storeys to a maximum 10 storeys.
“We’ve been working on this project for over two years now so when it was approved we were very excited,” project developer Podium 1 chief operations officer Felicity Richardson said.
“Not only will the local region benefit from this complex, but it’s set to be the motorsports hub of Victoria and we can even argue Australia as there are no other sites like it.
“We are now going to start working on the detailed design which will probably take a couple more months, and then we will progress to construction.”
During the council meeting, Cr Brett Owen said he “can’t recall anything quite the size in Cardinia” of what the complex is planned to be.
“Motorsports is a legitimate recreation in our shire that has, in my opinion, been forgotten about for a long time,” Cr Owen said.
“It’s been 15 years in relation to this site to get where we are now.
“Council purchased 335 McGregor Road back in 2004 and now the planning process is before us.”
With major noise pollution concerns, Pakenham resident Tony O’Hara is less than pleased about the approval.
Mr O’Hara said he is “disappointed” that there was no mention of the site being 1300 metres away from residential properties.
“I’m not surprised that the plans were approved – unfortunately the council voting seem to be thinking about big game for the shire and not worrying about what their community are going to have to put with,” he said.
“They don’t seem to understand. I feel as though they listen to me in theory but don’t take any notice of what I’m saying – they’re dismissing my comments as irrelevant when they should be studying my comments.”
A council spokesperson said council peer reviewed the noise assessments provided to date that were undertaken by the proponent and they were deemed “satisfactory”.
