By JONATHON HOWARD
SOUTHERN Downs Regional Councillors were expected to vote on a long-running application from Carnell Raceway to extend race meets, during council’s general meeting on Wednesday, 26 June.
The application submitted to council proposes an increase to the use of Carnell Raceway at the end of Rifle Range Road.
The proposal includes three main aspects:
– Increasing the number of race meetings to 40 days per year;
– Use of the raceway for driver and rider training; and
– Camping at the raceway.
The recommendation to councillors said the proposal to increase the number of race days from 12 to 40 would result in “unacceptable noise impacts on surrounding residents”.
“In accordance with the 1994 draft guideline for motorsport prepared by the then Queensland Department of Environment and Heritage, for the raceway to hold up to 40 events per year operating noise levels would need to be reduced by at least 15dB(A), which is impractical,” it read.
However, councillors may approve the application with several conditions including a maximum of 12 race days for touring and drag racing.
The approval conditions could also allow for camping for up to 15 people on the site for the night prior to and following a race meet, and only by competitors.
BREAK OUT
What the submissions said
SOME 86 submissions were made to Southern Downs Regional Council in relation to the Carnell Raceway application.
Forty-nine submitters were against the proposal and 36 were in favour.
An additional 39 late submissions were received to the application, including a petition with 192 signatures in support.
Of these late submissions, two objected to the proposal and 37 were in favour.
The petition highlighted some of the economic and social benefits of Carnell as a motorsport club, where restrictions have inhibited its usage resulting in a significant deficit to the community.
According to council, the petition was handed to the secretary of the Short Circuit Motor Sport Association by competitors at the QLD-NSW Sprint Challenge held at Carnell Raceway during May 2013.
HISTORY BREAK OUT
Club history
DURING 1993, the Stanthorpe and District Sporting Car Club (SDSCC) submitted an application under the Local Government (Planning and Environment) Act to regularise the use of the site for a raceway.
Council approved the application for eight events a year – five weekend events and three one-day events.
However, several submitters to the application filed an appeal against the approval in the Planning and Environment Court.
In 1996, the matter was settled and a court order was made palcing conditions on the conduct of events at the raceway, including limits of three practice days each year, to be conducted between the hours of 11am and 3pm, on any day except Sundays.
Further court order restrictions included the track was not to be used by “pro stock rails”, “top fuellers” or truck racing; and a limit of 12 race days in each 12-month period.
Camping on the grounds was also banned under the court order.
