$1.2m track option for council

Andrew Mathieson
Geelong councillors should consider spending $1.2 million to help dirt-bike riders buy their McAdam Park track, according to a City Hall report.
Council remains hesitant about committing to Sporting Motorcycle Club Geelong’s bid for McAdam Park track at Barrabool, preferring instead to focus on building a new facility at Avalon. But Geelong Motocross Club, which council evicted from Breakwater two years ago amid noise and dust complaints, has rejected the Avalon proposal in favour of relocating to Barrabool.
City’s officers have told councillors in briefing notes that both clubs were determined to join forces at McAdam Park.
“It is clear that the McAdam Park facility could accommodate both the Geelong Motocross Club and the sporting Motorcycle club,” the report said.
“It appears that the differences between the two clubs evident a couple of years ago have been resolved to an extent.”
McAdam Park, which lies in Surf Coast Shire, is under threat unless the sporting motorcycle club raises a further $2 million to buy the land by September for a total $3.5 million.
State Government has pledged $1 million and Surf Coast Shire has offered $200,000. The club has raised about $200,000 so far.
Barwon Recreational Motorcycling Council, which wants the City to tip in $1.2 million for McAdam Park, has a business plan projecting an annual $500,000 profit from operating the track over four days a week.
But the council officers doubted the viability of the plan.
“The ability of the Barwon Recreational Motorcycling Council to raise the necessary funds to purchase and develop the site to a regional standard must be questioned,” the report said.
Council’s own proposal for McAdam Park budgets $7.9 million for three-phase development.
However, nearby residents could block the bid after telling Surf Coast Shire they intend to “use every legal means available.”
Geelong Motocross Club has been forced to pay to ride at Barrabool.
Council has already spent nearly $140,000 in plans to relocate the motocross club to Avalon. The report said council had already allocated $800,000 to the project, which could probably be delivered in six to eight months.
Geelong Motocross Club president Frank Cambria said facilities at McAdam Park and the Avalon site off Dandos Road “just don’t compare”.
“Ninety-nine per cent of the members would rather McAdam Park,” he said.