ACT Dragway

ACT Motorsport Strategy and Fund

The ACT Government set aside $8 million in the 2008-09 Budget for an ACT Motorsport Fund for the purpose of fostering and investing in local motorsport in the ACT. 

The ACT Government has undertaken an initial round of consultation with relevant peak motorsport groups and associations in the ACT.
On 13 September 2008, the Territory advertised a tender for a consultancy to deliver an ACT Motorsport Strategy.  The consultancy project will investigate:

• economic, social and environmental issues associated with investing in existing or new facilities;
• preliminary site planning for existing and/or new facilities;
• options for grant or other funding to assist motorsport groups to improve services or to conduct events;
• governance and management models for motorsport facilities;
• funding models and propose an detailed allocation breakdown of the ACT Motorsport Fund consistent with the Government’s directions;
• opportunities to increase participation rates and to host national and international events in the ACT;
• cost infrastructure requirements for a motorsport precinct; and
• options and broad requirements for an off-road recreational motorcycle riding facility.
  

The Strategy will identify a range of options and recommendations that will be considered by the ACT Government as part of the process to nurture and grow motorsport in the ACT.  It is anticipated that the consultant report for the ACT Motorsport Strategy will be provided to Government for consideration in February 2009.

Background

Dragway

On 21 December 2006 Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation, Andrew Barr, announced that an extensive report into the environmental and financial viability of a dragway in the ACT has raised significant concerns with Majura site (Block 51).

The report said the development of a facility would be unlikely to meet applicable environmental noise criteria and likely to require substantial additional financial contribution by Government beyond the $8 million already set aside in the Budget.

“The Stanhope Government is supportive of re-establishing a dragway in the ACT, following the ceasing of the previous facility in 1998, but the report to government – based on a thorough evaluation - has indicated significant challenges arising from the Majura site,” Mr Barr said.
“As a result, the Government believes establishing a dragway at the Majura site is not feasible.”

Mr Barr said the ACT Government has now exhausted all land options and has written to the Australian Government to request that they re-lease the former dragway site.

The Report to Government on Dragway Proposal, October 2006, and other material relating to the evaluation of Block 51, Majura are available below.
Following the completion and consideration by Government of initial feasibility investigations into the sustainability of Block 51 Majura for the purpose of a dragway, and the advice of the Dragway Advisory Committee (DAC), the Chief Minister announced on 20 February 2006 that the Government would proceed with a detailed evaluation of Block 51.  Details of how the evaluation would be undertaken were outlined in a Community Discussion paper released in February. (  PDF 1.4Mb)

The evaluation, including all associated detailed studies, has now been completed and it and all other relevant material are available through the links below together, with the Minister for Tourism Sport and Recreation’s announcement as to the Government’s decision on the proposal.
In 2007 Minister Barr wrote to the Federal Government seeking advice on the potential availability of national land within the Majura precinct.

In August 2007 the former Minister for Defence wrote to the Territory indicating that while the old dragway site (Block 520) could not be made available to re-establish the dragway.

With the change of Federal Government in November 2007, the ACT Government again approached the relevant Commonwealth Ministers seeking their advice on the availability of surplus national land within the Majura precinct. 

Advice subsequently received confirms the previous Commonwealth Government position that there is no land available for the construction of a dragway in the Majura precinct.

• Report To Government on Dragway Proposal, October 2006 ( PDF 576kb)
• Frequently Asked Questions ( PDF 27kb)

A summary of options for a dragway in the ACT Region

• 2004 Noise Assessment Block52 ( PDF 803Kb)
• 2004 Noise Assessment contour plots ( PDF 1.8Mb)
• Dragway options report ( PDF 1.2Mb)
• Noise impacts ( PDF 291Kb)
• Motor sport noise - Environment protection policy ( PDF 122Kb)
• Draft Preliminary Assessment Block 52 Majura ( PDF 7.3Mb)

Attachments to Report to Government

Attachment 1A

• Base Development Costs - Option 1 ( PDF 16Kb)
• Base Development Costs - Option 3 ( PDF 17Kb)
• Base Development Costs - Option 7 ( PDF 17Kb)

Attachment 1B

• Operational Viability Analysis ( PDF 48Kb)

Attachment 2A

• Noise Assesment Against Draft EPP - Easterly ( PDF 15Kb)
• Noise Assesment Against Draft EPP - Neutral ( PDF 15Kb)
• Noise Assesment Against Draft EPP - Westerly ( PDF 15Kb)

Attachment 2B

• Noise Assesment Against Alternative EPP - Easterly ( PDF 15Kb)
• Noise Assesment Against Alternative EPP - Neutral ( PDF 15Kb)
• Noise Assesment Against Alternative EPP - Westerly ( PDF 14Kb)

Recent Associated Studies

• Preliminary Assessment (Stage 1) Report, October 2006, SMEC ( PDF 3Mb)
• Noise Impact Assessment, Benbow Environmental ( PDF 6.5Mb)
• Air Impact Assessment, Benbow Environmental ( PDF 2.1Mb)

Geotechnical Investigation Report, Parsons Brinckerhoff

• Part One ( PDF 217kb)
• Part Two ( PDF 1.4Mb)
• Part Three ( PDF 5.1Mb)
• Part Four ( PDF 1.6Mb)

Previously Released Information

The following information was released earlier this year, and posted on the CMD Website, to advise on investigations undertaken to that time and the project evaluation process for the current stage.  The Community Discussion paper also includes links to the initial feasibility studies, the DAC Report and earlier related reports.

• Chief Minister's Media Release 20 February 2006 ( PDF 73kb)
• ACT Dragway Community Discussion Paper February 2006 ( PDF 1.4Mb)
• ACT Dragway Frequently Asked Questions February 2006 ( PDF 86kb)

On 30 March 2006 the Environment Protection Authority released a draft Dragway Motor Sport Environment Protection Policy for public comment.