Wakefield Park Crippled After New Ruling
Wakefield Park has been battling with the local council and the NSW Land and Environment Court (LEC) to remain open after noise complaints from their Neighbours. Last night they were handed one of the worst possible outcomes which will essentially put the track on its knees…
A recently ruling by the NSW Land and Environment Court could spell the end for Wakefield Park raceway…
Wakefield Park is a 2.2km track built in 1994 that sits just outside of Goulburn, NSW and has seen some spectacular racing from ASBK, V8 Supercars and numerous other national level race events. The most important thing about Wakefield isn’t all the big event they’ve had but their willingness to work with club level racers and track day fans, catering for new riders and drivers at a competitive price.
The issues started in 2021 when some issues arose from the neighbours complaining about the noise coming from the track that essentially sits out in the middle of nowhere after the track submitted a DA for a spectator area expansion. Wakefield Park were given a set of rules they had to follow after their DA was denied by the local council, the days they were allowed to operate was also cut down with a plan to further lower it steadily over the next few years. To quote the Wakefield Park website “The DA put forward by Wakefield Park was consistent with the noise management framework that was agreed with Council in Land and Environment Court proceedings in January 2020.”
Wakefield Park is a 2.2km track built in 1994 that sits just outside of Goulburn, NSW and has seen some spectacular racing from ASBK, V8 Supercars and numerous other national level race events.
Now Wakefield Park have been handed devastating news from the NSW Land and Environment Court (LEC), they are only allowed to operate four days per month. That means that if a three day event such as ASBK went to Wakefield, they would only be able to operate one more day that month! This ruling will bring the track to its knees, with running costs outweighing the profit from four events a month.
What the LEC are doing is removing a massive local revenue earner for hotels, cafe’s, bakeries, restaurants and other local businesses with Wakefield Park bringing in Millions of dollars to local businesses. Not only this but they’re removing one of the two permanent motorsport facilities in NSW, while the NSW government simultaneously puts pressure on speeding and hooning.
Under the new ruling, Wakefield Park will only be able to operate four times a month. Essentially eliminating the opportunity to hold major racing events.
The whole press release from Wakefield Park is as follows:
“The viability of Wakefield Park as a motorsport facility is uncertain following a NSW Land and Environment Court (LEC) ruling handed down yesterday, 13 July 2022.
Wakefield Park’s owners, the Benalla Auto Club (BAC), undertook LEC proceedings in relation to a new development consent for the facility that was issued by Goulburn Mulwaree Council on 13 July 2021. That consent was subject to numerous unworkable conditions. During the proceedings, Council proposed further and more stringent conditions.
“Their (The LEC) effect will make it impossible to operate as a sustainable business.” Wakefield Park said in their recent press release…
While Wakefield Park’s appeal was upheld by the LEC, the LEC largely adopted Council’s proposed conditions. These severely restrict the number of days per year that the circuit can operate at various noise thresholds. Their effect will make it impossible to operate as a sustainable business.
From yesterday, use of Wakefield Park for more than 4 events per month would constitute commencement of the new consent and require surrender of the facility’s existing consent. Wakefield Park will therefore reduce its operations to no more than 4 events per month until an alternative pathway is determined.
Not only was the decision to run only four days a month hash, it was also instant. This means any existing booked events have a high chance of being cancelled.
The LEC decision is a shattering blow to the BAC, which submitted the DA with an intention of upgrading and improving Wakefield Park’s facilities. Wakefield Park’s existence as one of only two permanent motorsport facilities in NSW is now in jeopardy. Nevertheless, the BAC recognises the importance of Wakefield Park not only to the local economy, but to the wider motorsport and automotive industries. It remains committed to exploring all options with every level of government to preserve the facility.”
Editor’s Note: If you are reading this article on any website other than BikeReview.com.au, please report it to BikeReview via our contact page, as it has been stolen or re-published without authority.
