Lakeside News

[hrd-hr30]

the following is an article appearing in today's local paper:

Plans for Lakeside

by Glenn Roberts

Plans for the former Lakeside International Racewayare on track after Pine Rivers Shire Council invited seven of the 11 interested parties to submit business proposals this week for the management and development of the 40yo icon.

The council sought expressions of interest for the former raceway late last year when the Planning and Environment Court gave the go-ahead to explore options for thesiteafter long talks around an application for its listing on Queensland's Heritage Register.

Pine Rivers Mayor Yvonne Chapman, pictured, said the council was excitedby some of the prospects presented by the interested groups, which encompassed a range of activities including motoised sport, driver training, youth programs, outdoor sport and recreation as well as tourism development.

"The potential for Lakeside is enormous and council will be looking at options that gain the best outcome economically for the community," Cr Chapman said.

"This is our chance to once again turn Lakeside into a majordrawcard for Pine Rivers - the flow-on effects would be significant."

Cr Chapman said while the council would be looking at the economic benefits, it would also consider community access to sport and recreation opportunities at the site.

"We have been keen to turn Lakeside into a multi-purpose facility offering a number of uses for residents and visitors," she said

"Council would prefer a consortium of parties to offer an innovative, multipurpose solution for the recreation of activity at the site."

Parties invited to submit business proposals are: Total Driver Pty Ltd; RACQ; YMCA Brisbane; Willowbank Race Circuit Pty Ltd; Motorcycling Queensland/Motorcycling Australia; Queensland Police Citizens Youth Welfare Association; and the Juniper Development Group.

Cr Chapman said the proposals would need to address the council's heritage and environment obligations.

She said the council was hoping to have an arrangement in place by September.

the first real encouraging words (and actions!) from council about Lakeside since they bought the facility. And the most promising part of this is they have already completed their obligations under the Planning and Environment Court agreement - they are not under any obligation to do this.

I'm trying real hard not to get too excited!

[hrd-hr30]

uh-oh. I just had a quick dig around - I didn't like the sound of the Juniper Development Group who've been invited to the next stage of the tender process. Juniper "develops tourist concept and resort style accommodation".

Smells to me like another of those "golf course resort communities" in the pipelines - the golf course is already adjoining Lakeside Raceway - makes this alot less expensive for the developers. And the Golf Club were interested in getting hold of the land when Lakeside closed down...

The track and other registered areas are only protected until May 2010.

maybe I'm too cynical?

[Konrad]

think you hit the nail on the head there... more money to be made in resort style livin than reopening a racetrack thats only going to decrease property value in the area

[Col-GTSX]

I have played golf there a couple of weeks ago.... It brought back memories of going to the touring cars back in 1988... Arhhh memories...

I saw the original ticket booths through the fence on the 5th green and i remembered when i was like 5-6 years old and going to the races to see Peter Brock and Dick Johnson.... All i remember was the ticket booths... Funny...

Id love to race round that circuit...

[dangerous_daveo]

uh-oh. I just had a quick dig around - I didn't like the sound of the Juniper Development Group who've been invited to the next stage of the tender process. Juniper "develops tourist concept and resort style accommodation".

Smells to me like another of those "golf course resort communities" in the pipelines - the golf course is already adjoining Lakeside Raceway - makes this alot less expensive for the developers. And the Golf Club were interested in getting hold of the land when Lakeside closed down...

The track and other registered areas are only protected until May 2010.

maybe I'm too cynical?

The land is going to be worth a lot more in 4 years than it is now. I say take the 4 years and give it up after that. Juniper do ok work tho They are one of our customers

[Stephen22]

So what is happening with the Track....really going to be a golf course?

[AzzurrA]

nobody knows yet

[Duncan]

I saw an interesting article in Motorsport News this week about the rise of racetrack country clubs in the states, just like those golf club resorts ut obviously with a track instead.

As a member you get access to the track when you need it (always private use only no public events), house and garage at the track.

Since some golf club memberships top $300k you could see this making sense.

Relevance to this thread? probably nothing but we can always hope

[Revhead]

I just hope it remains a racetrack that's open for public events - with Darlington Park closing down, and reduced availability of - and noise restrictions at - Mt Cotton, the number of decent tracks nearby is getting pretty low. It's either QR (which is good but a bit boring in a car), Warwick (150-200km from Brisbane...) or Stanthorpe (another 30 mins). I'm pretty sure there's one in Gympie but that's a good couple of hours away, not sure about any others. Also Warwick's and Stanthorpe's tracks, unless you get the full track at Warwick rather than one of the halves, isn't really long enough to stretch the legs of a bike bigger than a 250.

If Lakeside closes down or has silly restrictions (or moronic local residents!) imposed on it like Mt Cotton it'll be another slap in the face for the "take it off the street" argument.

I've driven at Lakeside before and it's a nice technical track, a bit twisty to wind out a decent bike but fun on a small bike or in a car. If developers are reading this, please PLEASE develop it as a race track that's open to track days and other events!

[Ska]

Yes it is a great equation:

Lakeside + HQ's = Hell Fun!!

Jamming the column shift into second rounding the last corner before the straight, at the bottom of the hill in one of those rOcKs!

Oh and watching all the gemini's pile into each other approaching turn 1, gold.

Oh and watching the truck racing.

I could go on forever!