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 Car enthusiasts eye Lucas Heights - have your say 

Car enthusiasts eye Lucas Heights - have your say

15 Apr, 2010 04:38 PM
SOUTHERN Sporting Car Club members will hear a proposal tonight to develop a motor-sport centre at the Peak, Lucas Heights.

Graham Harlow, of Como, has put together a plan to turn land formerly used by Waste NSW into a motor-racing centre and driver-training park.

"Ideally, we'd like to make a motor-sport precinct out there,'' he said.

"There are a couple of other sites we're looking at, too.''

The proposal involves a former landfill site on commonwealth-owned land south-west of Heathcote Road being used for driver training and club motor-sport events.

Mr Harlow said support for his proposal had been spurred on by the closure of Oran Park Raceway at Narellan.

"In recent years Sydney has lost several iconic motor sport-related venues to the ever-increasing urban sprawl,'' he said.

"These venues were host to driver training, club motor sport and the development of motor-safety initiatives.''

Mr Harlow's proposal has the initial backing of the Cronulla RSL Motoring Enthusiasts Group as well as the MG, Volvo, Datsun and Mini car clubs in NSW.

Southern Sporting Car Club president Greg Boyle said he had met Mr Harlow and supported his proposed circuit at Lucas Heights.

"We'd be happy to see a circuit out there,'' he said.

"There's no noise restrictions out there, it's a great place to have one.''

Mr Harlow said benefits of a driver-training centre in Sutherland Shire would include safer roads, tourism and the rehabilitation of wasteland.

"The next step is state government.''

What do you think?

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Date: Newest first | Oldest first
Before these comments turn into some ridiculous hoons vs. maimed children argument, may we remain sensible about the role of driver training centres and racetracks in general? They are excellent pieces of infrastructure to have. Costly? Yes. But in my opinion greatly undervalued in the role they can play in improving driver awareness and capability (for good! not bad!). Who honestly thinks the RTA Ls and Ps programs are a difficult and testing procedure for kids to go pass? How many log books are filled in accurately? How many parents, who teach their kids, are good drivers to start with? Fostering a good link between the community and the services that a facility like that proposed can offer, is vital to making our lives safer. And lets not mention its also a great sporting activty! If someone is keen on any form of tarmac motorsport in this state, where do they go? ARDC has Eastern creek booked out months in advance, Wakefield Park is an expensive tow away from sydney should things go wrong, and clearly the streets are too dangerous to mention. Where would a young Perter Brock (RIP) gets his roots in Sydney today? Does Tony Perich know of these plans?
Posted by Ed, 16/04/2010 1:49:38 AM, on St George & Sutherland Shire Leader
I totally support this motion, as a teenager I had two accidents caused by "hooning" around in the RNP at night and near Macquarie Pass, I now know better. But at the time had there been a safe and legal way to learn the limits of my car locally, then I would have. This could be a perfect opportunity for the RTA to endorse a defensive driving course as part of the licencing program in the Sutherland Shire, and hopefully sooner rather than later, other council areas will follow suit.
Posted by Willy, 16/04/2010 10:24:43 AM, on St George & Sutherland Shire Leader
I agree it would be an excellent site for the establishment of a driver training centre but for use as a motor racing venue, no way. Its ok for Graham Harlow of Como to be all in favour of the idea, its not going to be situated on his doorstep. As for people living in close proximity to the proposed site in the suburbs of Heathcote and Engadine the noise pollution will be of concern. These are quiet suburbs which don't need the distant drone of racing cars going in circles foisted upon them. And don't get me started on the resultant increases in air pollution and senseless burning of fossil fuels. Maybe it would be good if these "enthusiasts" found another hobby more in tune and less impacting to the surrounding environment.
Posted by chris, 16/04/2010 11:07:12 AM, on St George & Sutherland Shire Leader
i think this is a great idea for the users of public roads and for the young kids who have a dream to continue motorsport as a profession i often attend track days at racetracks around nsw and there is hardly any pollution. and as for noise pollution the FIA restricts the noise pollution of each car and the car is not allowed to compete in any race or practice if it does not meet the requirments.
Posted by rupert, 16/04/2010 1:43:05 PM, on St George & Sutherland Shire Leader
Chris, does your daily car run on E85? most cars you'll see on a track these days certainly do. Perhaps address your own 'sensless burning of fossil fuel' before assuming everyone else is as environmentally unfreindly as yourself. One of the biggest hurdles this proposal faces is such one eyed 'not in my backyard' folks who complain without even the first understanding of what it is they are actually complaining about. cars = hoons = maimed children is what the media is thrusting in your face these days, supported by footage of true morons doing doughnuts in macdonalds carparks. that is NOT representative, though unfortunately it does make for pretty images to show as news. I'm a trauma surgeon in a large sydney referral hospital, and i enjoy motorsports. I have, unfortunately, suffered the results of this media hoon frenzy, and subsequently keep my car in the garage these days, for fear of being quite unfairly picked out of a stream of traffic, and issued notices for my car to undergo inspection, plus fine and costs, despite it actually being perfectly legal. As a community, we should foster a better relationship between drivers and enthusiasts without the media driving us apart
Posted by Ed, 16/04/2010 11:27:18 PM, on St George & Sutherland Shire Leader
To all the local Engadine and Heathcote people that might be affected by the low rumble in the far distance. Did you complain when the Army was letting off amunition rounds in Holsworthy, do you complain about the constant smell of the tip, what about when the kids are playing in the local school or at the footy ground, do you complain when the thunder storms rumble in off the coast, what about the trucks up and down the highway and Heathcote road carrying nuclear waste. I am sure your were a lobbyist when they proposed an airport at Holsworthy which would have benefited millions of people but inconvenienced a few. As stated already, the noise and pollution of the mostly road registered cars on a track 5kms away which is bounded by no development zones should not pose any threat on your lifestyle. Let's get behind the well being and safety of road users and put driver training first as a priority with a bonus of a closed track for enthusiasts. If we do it, it has to be done right for all to use so it is viable.
Posted by Willo, 17/04/2010 12:13:51 PM, on St George & Sutherland Shire Leader
I agree with Ed totaly, I think that without these types of facilities where can people can learn how to drive responsibly & in a controlled environment where can you do it?? Driver training centres & racetracks should be promoted not demollished, for example I look at the current NSW governments desision to fund a street circuit in sydney instead of funding eastern creek raceway as moronic & hypocritical. What sort of message is this giving young people, Dont race on a track, race on the street!!! Also motorsport is a sport & should be treated the same way as other sports like swimming, football, cricket, etc. Look at the funding these sports get & what have they done to make every day life safer for people & the environment!! manufactures involved in motorsport are constantly working to make cars safer mor reliable & more efficient. For example Diesel technology at le Mans 24 hour, kenetic energy recovery in F1, E10 use in most race cars like V8 Supercars.
Posted by n, 21/04/2010 8:57:01 AM, on St George & Sutherland Shire Leader
So far I have only seen comments regarding car drivers using this facility does this mean another facility not interested in the providing this form of outlet for motorcyclists too? If so, be careful because they are right now compiling are reason for Labor to loose the next state election based on the biased control of the state government owned Eastern Creek Raceway by the Australian Racing Drivers Club. There is more of us than you think !
Posted by Barnacle BOB, 21/04/2010 8:03:11 PM, on St George & Sutherland Shire Leader
Hi from Canberra, we would love to have another venue close by. I know of quite a few locals who would be happy to travel up to make use of the venue. Our other closest track is Wakefield, which can be sometimes difficult to get time on, or all the way south to Winton, Victoria. For any of us travelling up, there is other benefits. We go to local restaraunts to eat, we go to local shops to buy things. We stay at local hotels and motels. Many of us have families, and they come with us, so its not just a few hours trip, it's a weekend getaway. It's a big bonus to the ENTIRE community, not just the motorsports venue. To any of the NYMBY's all I ask is that you please step out your front door and learn about what your complaining about. Once you know what it actually is, and its impact, everyone will actually take you seriously instead if dismissing you as a wowser. Real motorsport enthusiasts (and event organisers) are responsible people who do actually care about others, unlike what ACA would have you believe.
Posted by Al from ACT, 22/04/2010 8:40:46 AM, on St George & Sutherland Shire Leader
My son hitches up the car trailer & takes his little red Toyota 'Rolla' drift car all the way up to Eastern Creek, to sensibly, & in a safe & organised manner, practice his 'drifting' technique. Build this facility not only to provide a training/skidpan/drift track for those local learners/enthusiasts, but to keep the 'hoon element' off our bloody streets!!!
Posted by Peter Tee, Cronulla., 22/04/2010 12:25:52 PM, on St George & Sutherland Shire Leader
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Driven: Southern Sporting Car Club president Greg Boyle said he would support a Sutherland Shire motor-sport centre proposal. Picture: Chris Lane
Driven: Southern Sporting Car Club president Greg Boyle said he would support a Sutherland Shire motor-sport centre proposal. Picture: Chris Lane
Related Coverage
ARTICLES
25 March, 2010
08 April, 2010
31 October, 2009
06 January, 2008
01 November, 2008
POLL
Q: Should a motor racing park be built in Sutherland Shire

Yes
(85.6%)

No
(14.4%)

Total Votes: 1182
Poll Date: 31 March, 2010

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