Plans to build a speedway in Moreton Bay to cater for thousands of racing fans have angered some residents of Beachmere, who say it will pollute their small coastal town.
Around 200 residents gathered at the proposed site of the Moreton Motorsport Park north of Brisbane on Sunday, holding signs saying “public peace over private profit” and “no cancer chemicals”.
According to the development proposal, the sporting facility would include regular motorcross and speedway tracks meets, as well as “international events” hosting “up to 30,000 total spectators over multiple days”.
The plans have angered some members of the community, who said the track would cause noise and chemical pollution and “fundamentally change the character of Beachmere”.
“The community feels very strongly that this project will have massive impacts on them,” said protester Jay Merritt, who’s lived in Beachmere since 1984.
“Those impacts range from increased flooding [to] noise impacts. Especially for our nearby residents, having high-pitched intrusive noise from motorsports activities for 43 weekends of every year.
“We also have impacts from traffic.”
Jay Merritt says Beachmere residents don’t want the Moreton Motorsport Park built near their homes. (ABC News: Jordan Bissell)
Track ‘needed’ in Southeast Queensland
The park is being proposed by Corbet’s Group, a family-owned company that offers haulage, bulk transport and land-clearing services. They’ve had a long association with racing and are the main sponsors of the Mothar Mountain Speedway track in Gympie.
Corbet’s Group has submitted its plans for approval under state government’s Ministerial Infrastructure Designation (MID), arguing there’s a “strong community and regional need” for a racetrack in Southeast Queensland.
The development proposal said the build was “supported by comprehensive Environmental Assessment and associated reporting and has/will be subject to appropriate consultation”.
However, resident Mel, who did not want to use her surname, said consultation had so far been limited.
“Not one person has approached us. We learned about this through Facebook and attended the first community meeting,”
she said.
Mel and other residents were concerned about potential flooding in nearby areas.
“They are proposing to raise the land and the access roads. What that will do is change the overland flow. They’re building on a flood plain… that floodwater has to go somewhere.”
Beachmere residents say the speedway will cause noise, flooding and traffic issues. (ABC News: Jordan Bissell)
According to the proposal submitted to government by Corbet’s Group, a flood assessment showed the proposed development would “not result in adverse impacts”.
In a statement to the ABC, Moreton Bay Council said it had lodged a formal submission with the state government, which would decide whether to approve or reject the project.
“In all planning matters, community consultation is the responsibility of the proponent,” the council said.
“Council welcomes the extension of time for further consultation and submissions and recommends community members make a submission to the State Government.”
The ABC has reached out to the state government and Corbet’s Group for comment.
