THE BATTLE for McAdam Park is back to square one after Motorcycling Australia’s bid for a new clubhouse and to legalise existing works were rejected the VCAT.
Opponents to the works, which would have seen motocross operations expand dramatically, have wasted no time in criticising the State Government and Geelong and Surf Coast councils for their efforts to assist the project.
“Our community was forced into a defensive position because the State Government, the City of Greater Geelong and Surf Coast Shire collectively supported Motorcycling Australia’s purchase of this land on the presumption that it would develop into a regional facility,’’ said Barrabool Rural Protection Group’s Heather Wellington, a recently-elected councillor with Surf Coast.
“Clearly, this is now not possible.’’
VCAT, the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal, rejected the MA bid on noise issues.
Cr Wellington, and BRPG’s Paul Morgan, issued a statement saying had authorities reviewed the plans “properly at the beginning, they would not have supported it’’.
“Their initial decision to support intensification of use at the site was associated with a gift of $1.37 million of public money to Motorcycling Australia and a promise of an additional $660,000 from the City of Greater Geelong and $100,000 from the Surf Coast,’’ Cr Wellington said.
“It has led to an estimated $1 million in legal and associated fees and countless hours invested the community.
“It is now clear that everyone has to go back to square one and much of the public investment has been wasted.’’
The group said there were lessons to be learned by State and local governments from the fiasco and hoped they would “reflect on what went wrong with their decision-making’’.
They called for measures to be taken to no other community group was “placed in this position in the future’’.
