SUPPORT FOR MOTOCROSS
Backing for move to former Fyansford quarry
A PROPOSAL to transform a former Fyansford industrial site into a motorcycle racing track has received a flood of community support.
Geelong council has received more than 100 messages supporting the planning application to develop the former Hamilton Highway sand quarry into a track for the Geelong Motocross Club.
The plans were released by the City of Greater Geelong for public comment last month, with 125 comments submitted to council through the planningalerts.org.au website as of last week.
The vast majority of the comments were in support of the proposal, which would be a lifeline for the 54-year-old, 70member GMC — which has been searching for a new headquarters since the 2015 closure of McAdam Park.
“As a Geelong resident who has spent my life enjoying the fruits of this sport, I would like for my children to be able to have the choice to participate in off-road motorcycling in our own region without the burden of having to travel long distances to ride legally,” Shannon Dixon wrote.
“I sincerely hope the council gets behind the off-road motorcycling community and can fill the large void in this region by approving this great opportunity.”
Sarah Krezlik also supports the proposal, and wrote: “As a past Geelong resident who has seen this great city shrink in diversity with its sport base I fully support this application.
“The local Geelong community is in desperate need of a motocross facility to bring back the family oriented club that has been left without a home for too long.
“A facility like this would greatly affect the community negatively and positively, what change doesn’t. The positives in this instance will far outweigh the negatives.”
Only five of the comments urged council to reconsider the location of the track, citing concerns around associated noise impacts on nearby residential properties.
“To all of the people saying this is a good idea, how would you feel if this was proposed 400m away from your house? Because that’s exactly how far away it is from a new housing estate in Highton,” Anthony Brown wrote.
“I’m not opposed to a motocross track, but this is not the location for it.”
An acoustic report completed in August found noise levels at the proposed track would be below the Environment Protection Authority’s maximum recommendation for noise from motor sports.
The GMC has previously told the Geelong Advertiser the track would be used up to 57 times a year, with 10 of those to be Sunday club race events. There will also be no buildings at the site, with pit tents to be erected on race days.