Illegal riding warning as McAdam Park vote looms

Andrew Mathieson
The region’s peak motorcycling body has warned of a surge in illegal riding if Geelong’s council fails to put money into the campaign to save Barrabool’s McAdam Park dirt-bike track next week.
Geelong’s council will decide on Tuesday night whether to contribute $1.2 million to retain the region’s last motorcycle facility. The Barrabool track’s owners have given a September deadline for motorcycle clubs to buy the land for $3.5 million.
Barwon Recreational Motorcycling Council chairman Peter Lindeman said City Hall had the power to save McAdam Park.
“If McAdam Park falls over there will be no facility and an expectation from people for the City of Greater Geelong to give them somewhere to ride,” Mr Lindeman said.
“If there’s not, there will unfortunately be an increase in illegal riding on golf courses, reserves and railway lines, everywhere.
“If they don’t think that is what’s going to happen, they are kidding themselves.”
A City report in July recommended councillors should consider supporting Geelong’s Sporting Motor Cycle Club’s proposal to put $1.2 million into McAdam Park. Another option was to build an Avalon track costing about $650,000 for Geelong Motocross Club, which council kicked off its Breakwater home two years ago amid complaints from nearby residents.
Mr Lindeman said City officers had waged an inside campaign for council to favour funding the Avalon track rather than McAdam Park.
“We’ve sent a lot of factual information to all the councillors but we believe it hasn’t been circulated by the council officers over the time,” he said.
Ward councillor Andy Richards said the hope of McAdam Park “living on” should sway his colleagues.
“I can’t pre-empt what other councillors will decide. However, I’m in support of saving it,” Cr Richards said.