The council has described the night-time works as "routine maintenance and renewal of road infrastructure", though it is the third time in 18 months parts of the race track have been resurfaced.

A secret 2016 agreement between Supercars and the council says the council must provide “regular (and at least, annual) maintenance and upgrading of all roads within the Circuit, at the direction of and as required by V8SCA”.

The agreement was kept hidden from the public and elected councillors until residents uncovered it last year through a freedom-of-information request. 

The road work includes resurfacing in Zaara Street, Scott Street, Shortland Esplanade and Horseshoe Beach.

A council spokesperson said in a written response to questions from the Newcastle Herald that these parts of the race track had suffered surface loss but had previously received only temporary repairs.

Other work under way includes resurfacing what the council described as "aged asphalt" in the eastern part of Scott Street and Parnell Place, and Watt Street between Wharf Road and Scott Street.

The council said these parts of the track had not been replaced before the first Newcastle 500 in November 2017.

The council did not answer questions about how much the work was costing and who was paying for it, though it appears clear from the 2016 "services deed" the council is footing the bill.

Some residents have complained to the council about noise, vibrations and dust from the works, as well as the cost of repairing the roads on behalf of a private corporation. 

"All ratepayers in Newcastle should be outraged at this work being prioritised over roads which are in a much worse condition," resident Mark Burslem said.

The council said the work had been scheduled at night to minimise impacts on surrounding resident, business and recreational access during the day and disruption to traffic, parking and public transport.

IN OTHER NEWS: Jeff Corbett on MAFS