Ipswich City Council responds to reports of ‘unbearable’ noise from Motoland Chuwar

A means of mediation has been proposed to help resolve ongoing issues between Chuwar residents, motorcycle ride park operators, and Ipswich City Council.

Ipswich City Council has responded to Chuwar residents’ calls for help in addressing the ‘unbearable’ noise emanating from motorcycle ride park Motoland since its arrival mid-last year.

Councillor Kate Kunzelmann made an impassioned plea at the council’s most recent ordinary meeting for her colleagues to consider how they might be able to help the community deal with “intolerable” disturbance from activities at the Coal Rd site formerly known as Tivoli Raceway.

She cited noise, dust, and the times and extent of motorcycle riding and track maintenance as the biggest issues locals faced, moving a motion for the council to undertake a community forum that Chuwar residents, council representatives, and Motoland operators would be invited to attend.

“A public meeting will give a better understanding of how many people are actually affected,” Cr Kunzelmann said.

“The impacts of the activity will be acknowledged, the motorcycling facility operators get to hear residents, (the) council reiterates what is possible in response to residents’ concern, and we get the reinforcement of a transparent process.”

Motoland officially opened at Chuwar in October last year and is open public holidays, weekends, and for special ride days and race day events. Picture: Website / Motoland

A key area of contention between the tracks’ supporters and members of the Chuwar community over the past five months has been whether the facility was built before the residential homes nearby, or vice versa.

Hundreds of people voiced their own opinions when The Queensland Times shared a story about the dispute to Facebook this week, many of whom argued residents should have researched the environment they were moving into more thoroughly.

“So over the discrimination against dirtbikes,” wrote one Facebook user.

“You never buy a house without knowing what’s around you first,” wrote another.

A Chuwar resident said that after a number of trees were cut down in the second half of last year, motocross tracks were visible from her bedroom window. Picture: Supplied

Motocross racers, riders, and coaches also weighed in.

“Take away safe places like Motoland Australia for riders, and I can guarantee the number of fatalities on the roads from street screamers will increase because they have nowhere to ride their dirtbikes,” motocross coach Gavin Heggs wrote.

“The track was there first. If you don’t like it, move on.”

According to Ipswich City Council, the land has been owned by motorsport-related entities such as the Auto Cycle Union of Queensland since 1948, with the facility itself existing on the land since the 1960s.

The approval for current use of the site was granted by Moreton Shire Council on December 4, 1974 with very few conditions and requirements.

Major events, such as the Sunshine State MX Series, were once held at the tracks formerly known Tivoli Raceway. Picture: Rob Williams

Cr Kunzelmann acknowledged that the facility had indeed “been there a long time”, but said the problem lay in recent operational changes enforced by new tenant Motoland.

“I have heard it said that residents chose to settle in this area knowing that there was a motorcycling facility in the area and that therefore they should put up with it,” she said.

“The key is a degree of change in the activity from an occasional meeting to an every-weekend commercial operation.

“The change in activity at Chuwar has significantly impacted residents over and above what would be considered reasonable.”

The Chuwar site had become rundown and derelict in recent years. Picture: File

Chuwar resident Debra, who asked that her last name be withheld, has been living near the facility for 10 years. Her parents purchased their property, which is also near the facility, in 1977.

She said the difference between her situation today and her situation a year ago, is that she deals with noise from the site “seven days a week now”.

“We can now see them, we can hear them,” she said.

“The bikes operate on the weekend and we have the machines operating through the week and after the bikes.

“It has changed dramatically from what it was to what it is now.”

Motoland founder Adam Bailey said he hoped to resurrect the raceway and return it to its former glory. Picture: File

She said dust from the site had affected her drinking water, also seeping into her home and covering her interior, and weekends were no longer enjoyable.

“We don’t get a reprieve. We have this the whole day,” she said.

“I nearly go nuts some days because it’s just so full on.

“I can’t afford to keep going out ... and why should I? Why should I leave my home to compensate for this, for what never should have been there?”

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

Councillor Russell Milligan expressed his support for residents in a time “where they are experiencing extreme hardship”.

Mayor Teresa Harding said that while landowner Motorcycling Queensland and tenant Motoland had a legitimate business operation, residents had reported many impacts on their amenity since the new tracks opened in October last year.

Cr Kunzelmann’s motion to hold a public meeting for residents, council representatives, and Motoland operators to come together and discuss the issues raised was unanimously passed.

It will be organised and held before the end of this month.