The recently completed Employment Land Strategy has recommended that Goulburn Mulwaree Council in the short-term review current zonings and planning controls to grow the motor sport industry.

It would relate to the RU1 Primary Production, RU6 Transition and RU2 Rural Landscape zones.

“This sport is growing in popularity and the council should continue to give it support as it has the potential to provide increased economic benefit to the LGA,” the report stated.

“It is recommended that the council review planning controls on the land where motor sports are, or wish to be located, to allow appropriate expansion for the industry.”

The suggestion won’t please opponents of an approved motorcycle track adjoining the speedway off Sydney Road. Objectors claimed the zoning was not appropriate. Several unsuccessfully challenged the approval in the NSW Land and Environment Court, claiming the council should have assessed it as a major recreational facility. 

The study’s recommendation followed a public submission from Goulburn Motorcycle Club. It discussed the industry’s tourism potential and suggested that RU6 Transition land could be rezoned to allow further expansion.

Club president Richard Toparis told the Goulburn Post that the entire transition zone throughout Goulburn, including around Chinamans Lane and Windellama Road, needed to be reviewed.

But he welcomed any possible changes to accommodate more motor sport in industrial areas and around the new motorcycle track. He saw it as a chance for the facility to grow in the future.

“The town is growing and it’s a good opportunity for the council to make suitable adjustments,” Mr Toparis said.

He maintained that while big industry wanted greenfield sites, the zones could equally accommodate motor sports because they were already busy during the day. Mr Toparis said this was the case on the Gold Coast.

“The difficulty is that Goulburn is an old school type of town...But we can’t afford to miss out on opportunities. We’ve missed on a lot in the past because the council didn’t have the flexibility to accommodate them. If they can do that, it’s good for everyone,” he said.

Meantime, the Motorcycle Club has gained a construction certificate for its new track.

Construction is expected to take six months with race operations beginning in early 2018, Mr Toparis said.