In the
open letter below sent to the Pine Rivers Shire Council Mayor, Yvonne
Chapman on 3 July 2003, Lakeside Motor Racing Enthusiasts president, Ian
Milton requested clarification on the PRSC's intentions towards Lakeside
International Raceway and its Heritage Listing status.
In the
PRSC reply, the Council states that they have dedicated another $100,000
to maintaining the closed facility. Further, they do not deny
that ratepayers commitment to the
motor racing circuit has now reached $1,000,000 and still without a
clear plan for the future.
As
the PRSC reply shows, the Council has now entered into an
open-ended turf war with the State Government without any cost estimate
from their legal council and don't know how they are going to pay for
it.
Meanwhile, one of the most revered motor racing circuits in the country
lays dormant even though it is now able to apply for State and Federal
funding that could help Lakeside realise its full potential and become
an economic success story for the people of the Pine Rivers Shire.
Dear
Lady Mayor,
I
understand that Council has decided to appeal the heritage listing of
Lakeside and has allocated a sum of One Hundred Thousand Dollars for
this purpose.
This
will now bring the total spent on the purchase of Lakeside to almost One
Million Dollars of rate payers money.
I urge
all Councillors to consider the likelihood of the appeal failing and
reallocating the funds towards the refurbishment of Lakeside.
Furthermore, with the potential for State and Federal government sports
grants the sum available could be three to four times this amount.
If
Council sincerely believes it acted with probity when purchasing the
complex, then surely there can be no fear of litigation as alluded to by
Councillor Monsour in a recent press quote.
And if
there is no hidden agenda regarding the future of Lakeside as suggested
by various shire residents, then let's return to racing immediately and
begin to receive a return on this huge investment.
Remember, that we have always said we embrace extensive community use of
the facility, however motor racing is the only discipline that will make
the circuit viable.
Alternatively, Council should sell the complex to a private operator,
make a profit for the ratepayers and rid the Council of this self
inflicted nightmare.
Again,
I offer the combined expertise of our organisation in providing
solutions to this challenge.
