Brisbane, Queensland – The latest Regional Sport and Recreational Facilities Plan commissioned by the Pine Rivers, Caboolture and Redcliffe Councils fails to investigate motorsport and take into account the urgent demand for a facility on the north side of Brisbane since the closure of Lakeside International Raceway. The plan, which was to "identify and analyse the present and future needs for sporting and recreational facilities at a regional, state and international level...for the next ten years, does not acknowledge street racing and hooning on public streets as an important issue for the community or propose a solution for frustrated residents and motoring enthusiasts.

 

Lakeside Motor Racing Enthusiasts, Inc. president Ian Milton said,

"Unfortunately, this is another example of the Not-In-My-Back-Yard attitude of local councils, which seems harmless, but they are ALL doing it. The people of south east Queensland need the State Government to provide some leadership on the issue. The police are doing their best, but the lack of a safe alternative guarantees that young people will continue their dangerous activity on public roads."

Lakeside Motor Racing Enthusiasts, Inc. made a submission to the Queensland State Government's Office of Urban Management requesting that a strategic plan be developed, as part of the south east Queensland Regional Plan, to address the burgeoning problems associated with 'hooning', trail-bikes and jet skis. The group says these problems are a direct result of a lack of dedicated motorsport infrastructure in the south east region. LMRE asks that Lakeside International Raceway be re-opened and developed to accommodate all forms of on and off-road motorsport.

 

Despite motorsport being the third most attended sport in the country (Australian Bureau of Statistics), ahead of rugby league, cricket or golf, and the single largest sport in Australia in terms of generating sponsorships dollars (Commercial Economic Advisory Service), obscure sports such as futsal and darts have been included in the Councils' plan.

 

Moreover, the plan cites the 2001 South East Queensland Outdoor Recreation Demand Survey, which investigated the "nature and participation in outdoor recreation activities". For residents in the Northern Regional Organisation of Councils, including Pine Rivers, Caboolture and Redcliffe, three of the eight most popular activities listed were motorised - driving four wheel drives, riding motorised watercraft and driving two wheel drive vehicles.

"We support the anti-hooning legislation and don't expect the public to foot the bill for facilities, however, the various governments do have a responsibility to make available land with the correct zoning so that all forms of amateur motorsport can be separated from residential areas - currently that's not happening," said Ian Milton.

Ironically, the Council's own plan references Lakeside International Raceway at least six times, recognises the legitimate issue of "where to ride" for trail bike riders and even twice recommends that Lakeside should be considered as a solution for trail-bike riding and go-karting.

 

 

Click here to read LMRE's submission the South East Queensland Regional Plan.

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