Call for state to probe track cash

Andrew Mathieson
RESIDENTS protesting plans to develop a Barrabool motorcycle track have demanded that a state Auditor-General probe into allocation of public money for the project.
Barrabool Rural Protection Group’s Dr Heather Wellington said several decisions must be “reviewed” after State Government and Geelong and Surf Coast councils approved more than $2 million to expand the McAdam Park track.
Motorcycling Australia boss David White told angered Barrabool residents at a public forum last month when he revealed changes to a business plan for saving McAdam Park after both levels of government had committed funding.
“If a large amount of money is being based on a business case that is no longer relevant, we’re asking why that allocation is continuing to be available,” Ms Wellington said.
“We’ve been told by City of Greater Geelong that it has acknowledged and understands that but it says it’s continuing to allocate the money anyway.
“We’re saying that decision needs to be reviewed.”
Barwon Recreational Motorcycling Council had been fighting for several years to raise $3.2 million to buy it’s the farmland off-road track from the McAdam family.
McAdam Park has been home to Geelong’s Sporting Motorcycling Club for the past five decades and will also accommodate the city’s homeless motocross club under the expansion plan.
Ms Wellington, a former Geelong councillor, said riders’ plans to profit from the park made the allocation “most unusual”.
Geelong’s council had planned to contribute $660,000 to a proposed Avalon track on crown land.
“There is a very large amount of public funding been put forward to purchase private land in a zone that is not appropriate for the purpose of it been put forward for,” she said.