Residents raise noise concerns about motorsports proposal

RESIDENTS living near the site of a planned motorsports facility are concerned it will “degrade” their lifestyle.

Woodstock resident Julie Milton, in a letter of submission, objected to the Drive IT NQ motorsports and driver education complex at 132 Bidwilli Rd, Calcium, on the west- ern side Highway.

She said the development site and surrounds was a “generally quiet rural locale” interspersed by sporadic road and rail noise, which she claimed was “controlled” by natural sounds of the wind and insects.

“The proposed development site proposes a high noise generation use within a cur- of the Flinders rently generally quiet rural locale,” Ms Milton said. “This ( development) is expected to affect the amenity of existing residences in the vicinity.”

She claimed the motoring facility could lead to a 77 per cent increase in noise.

Ms Milton said this was the equivalent from going to a “background noise level in a busy office” to “shouting, noise level near a busy highway”.

If Drive IT NQ was to be built, Ms Milton said the number of meets should be lowered to once a month and hours of operation should be reduced.

Reid River resident Scott Pope said the planned drag strip “will have negative effects” on locals.

Mr Pope said he was concerned the development might impact black- necked finches.

He also claimed noise echoed off the surrounding hills and he could hear music and people’s voices coming from a PA system when rodeos were held at Woodstock.

Mr Pope said an increase in traffic on the Flinders Highway would put lives at risk.

“We do not need the added danger of thrill seekers racing around, endangering our lives needlessly trying to access the drag strip,” he said.

Out of the 17 public submissions submitted to Townsville City Council, Ms Wilton and Mr Pope were the only ones who opposed the facility.

Other submissions claimed it would be an economic win for Townsville, drawing in visitors from outside of the region.