Brisbane, Australia –  Lakeside Motor Racing Enthusiasts congratulates Queensland Raceway for becoming the “preferred submitter” from the Pine Rivers Shire Council’s tender process to re-develop and manage Lakeside International Raceway. The historic facility’s name has been changed to Lakeside Park, but work still remains before motorsport can return. 

Queensland Raceway owner, John Tetley said,           

            “We are seeking a long-term lease to secure Lakeside’s future and I hope to have a contract signed in about a month.” 

Pine Rivers Shire Chief Executive Officer, Ray Burton said,  

“Council is negotiating a management agreement and contract with Queensland Raceway which will include the times of operation.” 

LMRE president, Ian Milton said, 

“Assuming there is a successful outcome to negotiations, we are looking forward to assisting John Tetley and the Pine Rivers Council to develop Lakeside into a desperately needed motorsport venue that benefits the whole community.” 

Following the PRSC announcement, LMRE committee members met with Mr Tetley to discuss the Council approved strategy for the famous circuit. Lakeside Park will operate as a “boutique facility” and seek to recreate the look and feel from its halcyon days of the 1960’s and 70’s.

Its operation as a motorsport facility will not be as it once was and a compromise has been made to limit racing to 20 events per year. As expected, the return of V8Supercars has been ruled out. 

Mr Tetley admits that noise and other environmental concerns are of paramount importance to the plan as well as encouraging a greater involvement in the facility by the wider community.

Furthermore, Mr Tetley offered that Lakeside “must be the servant of many to be successful” and will be seeking to include all forms of motorsport with two and four wheels. 

He said that it would be “unlikely to have a race this year”, but a re-opening celebration would be appropriate. The first official racing event is described as a “Renaissance Festival” and is scheduled for May 2007.

However, a significant program of safety improvements is planned for the track before then, including repairing the racing surface and moving armco barriers. 

Ian Milton said, 

“LMRE is encouraged by the common sense direction the council seems to be taking to create a shared facility that could bring real, long-term financial and social benefits, not just to the people of the Pine Rivers Shire, but the whole of Queensland.” 

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