CLUB officials will deliver a do-or-die presentation at Kempsey Shire Council’s June meeting in a bid to host a contentious drag racing event.
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Four Aces Drag Racing Club has lodged an appeal against what it considers to be unrealistic terms and conditions attached to the approval of its development application (DA) for a race meeting at Kempsey Airport.
Club secretary Peter Campbell said the not-for-profit sporting organisation would find it impossible to pay a $250,000 bond as security against any damage to the track.
A memo to Mr Campbell, from the council’s director of Sustainable Environment Robert Pitt, cites a new figure of $80,000 as the estimated cost of repairing damage to the runway caused to the areas used for ‘burn-outs’ and the starting zone, as well as for any run-off.
The club argues that amount is still too high, and is urging a bond of $20,000.
“In the DA conditions, the council wants us to have a pavement engineer inspect the runway before and after the event,” Mr Campbell said.
“By agreeing to that, we’ll commit to any repairs.
“We’re taking all the steps ANDRA (Australian National Drag Racing Association) demands of events at all airports.
“In all the airports across Australia hosting drag racing, we’ve heard of one in Victoria that had to repaint its white lines after an event, and there was one light that needed to be replaced at Tamworth.”
Mr Pitt said the DA would go back on public exhibition from next week.
“The application to modify conditions of consent will be notified for public comment between May 14 and 27,” he said.
“Council is not in a position to confirm the basis of any discussions with the club at this stage, as it will be the subject of a planning report for consideration of the elected council, which will also need to have regard to matters raised in any submissions received.”
Mr Campbell said Four Aces officials were working hard on their presentation and said if they failed to persuade councillors to relax the terms of the DA it would spell the end for hopes of staging the drag racing event.
“We’re still positive and are focused on our plan for the presentation,” Mr Campbell said.
Cr Anthony Patterson has previously indicated his support for the club’s proposed event.
