The proposed $77 million motorsport complex for Wakefield could be on the home straight for approval with the Regional Planning Panel (RPP) set to decide if it will raise the chequered flag.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Lake Macquarie council has recommended approval of BlackRock Motor Park to the Hunter and Central Coast Regional Planning Panel, which will meet to determine the development at Speers Point on Wednesday.
The panel requested additional information at a meeting in December, including the submission of a final Noise Management Plan, Operational Management Plan and revised Conservation Management Plan.
The council's recommendation, the same as it put forward in December, comes after several conditions of consent were amended on the back of the panel's request for more information.
"On balance, the development as proposed warrants approval, subject to conditions of consent pertaining to biodiversity outcomes, acoustic mitigation, heritage interpretation and overall site management," a council report to the panel says. "Approval of the development, subject to conditions of consent, is recommended."
The project was proposed in 2017 as a $30 million facility, but was substantially revised to the $77 million proposal after Lake Macquarie council raised numerous concerns with the original plans, including noise and environmental impacts.
The final Noise Management Plan (NMP) is "satisfactory", the council assessment report to the RPP says.
"However, given the dynamic nature of noise management and in recognition of the difficulty of identifying a complete control regime until in operational mode, it is anticipated that the NMP will likely require updating prior to operations commencing and also ongoing modification on an 'as needs' basis in order to ensure compliance with the identified project specific noise levels," the council said.
If approved, up to 20 vehicles will be able to use the 5.58km circuit at any one time, determined by specific activity and restrictions in the NMP.
The facility will have a maximum capacity of 500 people, including staff, at any one time.
Daily operating hours for track-related activities will be 8am to 6pm during daylight savings, ending an hour earlier the rest of the year.
A trackside visitors centre, the focal point of the development, will have a 100-seat restaurant, 150-person function area and 37 units for short-term accommodation.
Another 64-units, each with a double garage, will be dedicated for members. Twenty rooms will be part of a lodge with a gym and swimming pool, and 16 separate cabins are also planned.
BlackRock Motor Park would employ 45 staff.
The council said the development was consistent with its strategic direction for non-centre based economic activity and the rehabilitation of brownfield sites.
"The economic reuse of former mining land is a preferred and desired strategy for land previously utilised for employment generating activities in the LGA," the council said.
The development, on the site of the former Rhondda Colliery, received criticism from opponents last year for a heritage building incentive clause being used as part of the revised application.
The council adopted the revised Conservation Management Plan, which includes policies and strategies for interpretation and conservation of European and Aboriginal fabric, as the heritage management document for the site at Monday's ordinary council meeting.