Chuwar residents at breaking point after months of ‘unbearable’ Motoland noise

An Ipswich resident says she sleeps in her wardrobe wearing earplugs after a motorcycle ‘theme park’ was established next door without community consultation.

A group of Ipswich residents say their lives have “changed dramatically” since a motorcycle theme park was established in the middle of suburbia with incessant noise reportedly permeating their homes.

Nurse and mum-of-three Sarah Edwards said when she and her husband purchased their Chuwar home 18 months ago, they understood it was located behind an old motocross track that was used about five times a year.

In the three years leading up to their purchase, they believed the site had barely been used at all.

Accordingly, Ms Edwards said she was confused and concerned when the “old, abandoned” Tivoli Raceway was “inundated” with large machinery in August last year.

Motoland is open on public holidays, weekends, and “from time to time” for special ride days in school holidays, as well as race day events. Picture: Website / Motoland

She said construction workers and machinery operated “extremely” loudly at the site for up to 16 hours a day, seven days a week, until October.

“They completely demolished the entire track and everything around it,” she said.

Though no community consultation was completed, Ms Edwards said she and other Chuwar residents were of the belief Moreton District Motocross club and landowner Motorcycling Queensland were merely completing maintenance works — until a sign announcing ‘Motoland’ was erected.

“The community had no idea they were moving in,” she said.

“In October, they had a big opening day with over 200 riders.

“The noise was extremely loud.”

Between five and 20 riders use each track at the Chuwar facility at any one time. Picture: Website / Motoland

Two days after Motoland’s official opening, she said a number of local residents met with Ipswich City councillors and Motoland staff to discuss the impact of the theme park on its neighbours.

As a nurse who often worked night shifts, Ms Edwards was worried the constant noise would impact her sleep and ability to work.

Four months on, she said the effect was worse than she could have imagined.

“I now sleep in my walk-in wardrobe with my earplugs in,” Ms Edwards said.

“I try to play white noise to drown out the noise (from the site).”

She said the lives of those in her community had “changed dramatically” as they were essentially forced to vacate their homes for any peace.

“(We are) no longer able to enjoy our homes and (have) to go out to remove ourselves from the noise,” she said.

Ms Edwards said her parents — including her unwell father who suffers from PTSD and Parkinson’s disease — lived with her, her husband, and her three children and were “not coping”.

“I have to send (my father) away every weekend ... because he physically reacts to the sound of the motorbikes,” she said.

“The constant sound sets off his already damaged hearing. He can’t wear his hearing aids anymore.”

The real estate agent who sold the Edwards family their home reportedly estimated their house had decreased in value by between 30 and 40 per cent since the theme park was established.

“It’s a living hell,” Ms Edwards said.

Motoland founder Adam Bailey said the facility is the first of its kind in Australia. Picture: Supplied

Fellow Chuwar resident Graham, who requested his last name be withheld, said his home, particularly on weekends, was not really a home. In fact, it was “virtually a prison”.

“It’s been very disappointing and I know that we — both my wife and I — get a bit depressed on weekends,” he said.

Like the Edwards family, he and his wife purchased their home about 18 months ago and paid market value for a site they thought was near a “derelict” racetrack.

They invested about $150,000 into the property before the “intrusive” noises began at all hours of the day.

“We would move if we thought we’d get the right price for our house,” he said.

“Do you take a financial hit of $70,000 to $80,000, or do you try to get them to move?”

People of all ages and skill levels use the Motoland facility. Picture: Supplied

According to Ipswich City Council, the Chuwar land has been owned by motorsport-related entities since 1948 and operational as a motor sports facility since the 1960s.

The council is unable to revoke or otherwise take away the last approval given in 1974 which formalised the existing arrangements, nor can it make a change to the conditions of the approval without an application first being lodged.

There are currently no restrictions on noise levels and operating hours of the facility.

The only way the council may be able to enforce additional attenuation measures are met is through an Environmental Protection Order, which it issued on December 15 last year.

A council spokeswoman said a response, including a report prepared by consultants, was received from Motoland last week, on January 24.

“Council officers are currently reviewing the methodology, the results and recommendations contained in the report,” she said.

“Once officers have had time to consider the report’s recommendations, (the) council will be able to provide a reply to Motoland’s response to the Environmental Protection Order.”

Mr Bailey said Motoland is working closely with Ipswich City Council to minimise its impact. Picture: Supplied

Founder of Motoland Adam Bailey said that while Tivoli Raceway had become rundown in recent years, it previously held some of the most iconic motorcycle events in Australian history.

So, when Motorcycling Queensland offered Motoland the site, he considered it an opportunity to return it to its former glory, while taking into consideration the surrounding homes and environment.

“The racetrack was never decommissioned and the zoning of the area/buffer zones apply to housing that pre-dates the buffer zone being adopted under the Planning Scheme,” Mr Bailey said.

“New houses or those outside of the buffer zone do not.

“We can understand the frustration of those in new residential houses, particularly if they have been misled or were not made aware of the zone around them by relevant parties.”

The facility is said to bring attention and visitors to Ipswich from near and far. Picture: Supplied

Mr Bailey said Motoland had been “overwhelmed” with positive support from local and surrounding communities for the facility, including from riders of whom a “large portion” were from Ipswich.

“We are aware there is a small number of community members who are dissatisfied with aspects of the operation and are working to minimise this impact, while maintaining the intended and allowed use of the land,” he said.

“Motoland has made several modifications to operations including adjusting our hours of operation, implementing policies to restrict the volume of riders on the tracks at any one time, updating our track designs to reduce noise impacts (slower tracks with more jumps etc.), new irrigation systems to aid watering efforts which will minimise dust impact and a complete erosion and sediment plan to reduce any overflow into nearby waterways.”

He said Motoland was created out of a passion for motorcycle riding and he was committed to seeing it play a positive role in Ipswich’s community.