Hunter Valley’s old Rhondda Colliery mine to become Black Rock Motor Resort

An old coal mine site is set to transform into a high-speed, motorsport resort with accommodation units bordered by go-kart tracks and a car racing loop. See the exclusive photos here.

The transformation of an old coal mine into Australia’s first motorsport resort will take a massive leap forward on Tuesday, with the first sod to be turned on a $95m development including short-term accommodation, an F1-designed racing track and a specialised go-kart course.

The conversion of the historic Rhondda Colliery mine, at Lake Macquarie, into the Black Rock Motor Resort is the first in a series of major NSW Government plans to bring shuttered old coal mines back into use.

New images of the proposed park, shared exclusively with The Daily Telegraph, show accommodation units bordered by go-kart tracks, a car racing loop, and surrounded by dense Lower Hunter bush.

Once up and running, the new motorsport resort will include a 5.25km driving circuit planned by F1 track designers Tilke Group, a driver training centre, hotel accommodation, go-kart racing and a function centre.

The historic mine included open-cut and underground operations since its opening in the late 1800s before work stopped at the site in 1971.

An artist’s impression of the proposed 5.2km racing circuit.

An artist’s impression of the proposed development, including trackside accommodation and function centres.

The area has been undergoing remediation since then, with plans to build the high-octane resort finally moving forward with the relinquishment of the mining lease now being undertaken.

Transformation of the old mine comes as the NSW Government grapples with major plans to remediate and bring back into use other former sites.

That includes the possibility of pumped hydro facilities and solar farms, which have been slated for Idemitsu’s Muswellbrook coal mine and Yancoal’s Stratford mine near Gloucester.

An artist’s impression of the former Rhondda Colliery Mine site will be redeveloped into the Blackrock motor resort.

Accommodation units will border a go-kart track and car racing loop with the resort surrounded by dense bushland.

The facility will offer a range of accommodation and motoring experiences.

Natural resources Minister Courtney Houssos said the development at Lake Macquarie was a “once-in-a-generation opportunity” and part of the government’s strategy with using former coal mines.

“Mining has long been a source of economic prosperity for NSW. As mines close, the government is committed to ensuring sites are rehabilitated safely, and the land put to new and productive use for the local community,” she said.

Hunter and Police Minister Yasmin Catley said it was a prime example of a mine site being given a new lease of life.

“We hear constantly about the need for tourism opportunities and adaptive reuse of rehabilitated mines. This is a smart, exciting example of both,” she said.

An artist’s impression of the accommodation.

Rhondda Colliery Mine in operation in the 1960s.

Rhondda Colliery Mine in the Hunter Valley circa 1960s. Picture: Supplied

The Rhondda Colliery Mine in the Hunter Valley circa 1906. Picture: Supplied

Black Rock Motor Resort CEO and founder Tony Palmer said the facility would offer a range of motoring experiences, including driver safety classes for young motorists as well as chance for the public to drive their own cars, or the business’s rented cars, on the high-speed circuit.

“Black Rock Motor Resort is proud to be pioneering the adaptive re-use of a former coal mine into an exciting, world-class adventure tourism destination,” he said.

Construction is expected to be finished within two years, with 450 jobs created during building and another 229 permanent jobs.

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Originally published as Hunter Valley’s old Rhondda Colliery mine to become Black Rock Motor Resort