Newcastle East Residents Group's Christine Everingham said politicians were no longer listening to residents' concerns, which had remained unanswered.

"There's no voice for us in government on either side of the house," she said.

"We are not against the event. We know people have a good time. It's just a totally inappropriate place," Ms Everingham said.

"The race's numbers are dwindling every year and next year they want to do it in December, before Christmas, what are businesses going to do then? Council is responsible for rehabilitating the park and foots the bill for the road. Unless an authority stands up, we're going to have to do this for the next 10 years."

Keran Davis, who lives on a bend in the track on Church Street, said the event was still a "monstrous invasion". She said she felt like she had stay to keep an eye on her house and neighbours' homes.

"You're trapped inside when you don't want to be," she said."It's great to see people enjoying themselves. My problem is with the location and the ratepayer money spent on a race that so badly impacts residents not for three days but almost three months."

Residents who supported the event in its current form said there was still more that could be done to limit impacts on Novocastrians. Col Wallace, who lives near Zaara Street, said he tolerated the inconveniences.

"Getting in and out is chaos. I haven't used my car since Wednesday," he said. "But I love it. I walk down to watch with my dog."

Sharon Troke, of Shortland Esplanade, said she appreciated the event was "good exposure" for the city but said it should do more to boost local business.

"There should be no food vans," she said.

A race spectator, Kristen Middleton, from Brisbane, who was staying in Parnell Place said she understood why so many residents had left Newcastle's East End.

"I would get out of here. The noise - the sound proofing does nothing," she said.

James Thompson, who had 16 family and friends at his trackside apartment, said the focus needed to remain on the benefits for the city.

"I'm pro anything ... that involves the revitalisation and the growth of Newcastle. It's very important that we look at that. But also at the same time making sure it's not damaging the city as well.

"It is a little a bit of an inconvenience, the setting up and packing up, but it's about the city," he said.

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