Residents’ anger over motorsport plan

Plans for a new $20m Moreton Motorsport Park were challenged at a packed - and at times highly charged - public meeting last night.

Residents filled Beachmere Hub, with many having to sit and stand outside, as The Corbet Group sought to ease fears over the park’s impact.

It is proposed to build two tracks hosting motocross and speedway meetings, driver training facilities, a BMX track, pitting and grandstand seating on 24.8 hectares off Bloesch Rd.

A development application has been lodged with the State Government under the Ministerial Infrastructure Designation (MID) process and is being assessed.

Some opponents, at times, talked over and shouted down speakers - and supporters - with key concerns being traffic, flooding, noise, property values, wildlife and the submissions process.

Many took petition sheets offered by one resident and welcomed offers of help with submissions from State Member for Pumicestone Ariana Doolan.

Andrew Corbet, General Manager of The Corbet Group, was “a bit surprised” by the mood of the meeting but felt the “vast majority were pretty good and open to listening”.

“There were a few hecklers around the edge who made it look bad for the people who wanted to learn and listen.

“Everyone’s entitled to their opinion, but a lot stayed back, came and spoke to us and asked for information.”

State Member for Pumicestone Ariana Doolan told the meeting: “Initially I was in support of the project - jobs, people, getting young people off the street.

“But I’m here to represent you. After extensive consultation I do have strong concerns which I have relayed back to the Deputy Premier.”

Ms Doolan said she has asked for community consultation (due to end on June 11) to be extended - which has never happened before in the MID process.

“If you strongly object to this project you need to have your voice heard,” she said.

“If you can get those submissions in, we’ve got more evidence (that) this does not fit the character of Beachmere.”

The State Member said of 1733 submissions assessed by the State Government as of last night. 1397 were in support, 444 against, 85 uncommitted and seven had errors.

“I believe the community consultation wasn’t good enough,” Ms Doolan said, “we have an elderly population, a lot of people not on Facebook and didn’t know there was a way to make a submission.”

One attendee said if residents had been “given a say” earlier it would have shown “the local community is vehemently against this proposal”.

A man, who lives close to the motorsport park site, is worried about heavy traffic during construction, “similar to what we had during the (Beachmere Rd) roadworks - twice”.

He was also concerned about the possible ‘flooding effect” of the development and noise, saying he can hear Brisbane Airport from his property.

“How are ambulances to go up and down this (Beachmere) road if it is gridlocked?” he added. “This is a retirement and fishing village.”

Mel, who also lives in the area, said her main concerns were perceived inconsistencies in the project’ reports and flooding.

“We’re not against development,” she said, “we would love North Harbour to go ahead and think it will be great for the area but I think we are going to be left open to project creep.”

Corbet’s GM Andrew Corbet said: “There’s no noise impact to these guys (residents), no environmental impacts, no flood impacts, the traffic … we’ve got it mitigated.

“We think our consultants have done the right job.

“We had a heap of people who live near the track who shook my hand and said this is the best thing for the area, keep going. And that’s what we want to do.”

An ecologist who had assessed the motorsport park plan said: “The positioning of the tracks has the least impact on the site. It is the most disturbed area of the site.”

He said it is “mostly exotic grasses, no trees, no possums. Wallabies have already gone as it was pine forest.”