Dirt tracks an option for future ticket
After almost two decades in the making, DriveIt NQ is racing towards its finish line to become known as the destination for motorsport nationally.
Townsville
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After almost two decades in the making, DriveIt NQ is racing towards its finish line to become a national destination for motorsport.
It’s understood a meeting scheduled this week between DriveIt NQ and Labor MPs Aaron Harper and Scott Stewart could result in the final $12 million needed.
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The original business model, worth $25 million included a driver training centre, speedway, drag strip and 3.5km track but left out dirt tracks for flat track and motocross.
It’s understood the Townsville Motorcycle Club declined to become a foundation member when approached after the facility’s inception in 2006, however CEO Pat Driscoll said that wouldn’t prevent the potential for a future partnership if the club was voted in by the board and existing members.
“At the end of the day because they haven’t been a foundation member we haven’t costed them and it’s not in our business model and funding model,” he said.
“Our priority is to get our foundation members funded but we would start working on that (dirt track) in parallel.
“There is an allocation of land for them if and when they choose to use that but there is a process for them to be a member and from our point of view the more people on board the better for everyone.”
Mr Driscoll said the world class precinct had endless opportunity on what it could deliver for the region in terms of economic injection and spectator events.
“We could see Monster trucks and car racing and title events in future for sure,” he said.
“It’s a world class precinct and most race tracks are in the middle of nowhere but you stand there and you have mountains in every direction – it’s majestic.
“It’s the only club in Australia with all of these facilities that’s not privately owned.”
Mr Driscoll said the precinct was the perfect “shovel ready” project to help the region with jobs on the back of COVID-19 and its potential expansion to include dirt tracks could be an answer to help the Townsville Motorcycle Club lower its operational costs.
“There’s an opportunity for the Queensland government (and) I’d be ecstatic for it to happen for motorsports before the state election,” he said.
“Member clubs will have access to all of the facility so whether it’s a backhoe or a grader that’s needed – each club can share it.
“Strategically, longer term it’s absolutely the case that the land and the government funded model is of benefit for everyone.”
Burdekin MP Dale Last said the LNP remained supportive of the project and welcomed the possible inclusion of dirt bike tracks to see the precinct become a motorsport mega centre.
“The LNP fully supports the DriveIt NQ project and, in fact, it was the federal LNP who have committed $12 million to the project to ensure it meets the current and future needs of North Queensland,” Mr Last said.
“Let’s not forget that the Member for Thuringowa committed to the delivery of this project at the last election.
“It should not be limited to specific forms of motorsport or hamstrung by a state Labor government who is all talk and no action.”
Thuringowa MP Aaron Harper said he’s been ‘all in’ from the beginning and was determined to see the project get on track.
“DriveIt NQ is so important to me, it’s not even in my electorate but I’m never going to stop pushing for that because historically Thuringowa lost speedway, drag way, karting has been restricted all out at the Bohle,” Mr Harper said.
“Townsville’s got this crazy kind of motorsport obsession, 150,000 people through the gates of Townsville 400 for a decade and I’m one of those people that’s an absolute enthusiast.
“I can already see it – it just needs a final push and its going to be fantastic for Townsville.”
State government funded roadworks, worth $5 million dollars are expected to begin later this month.
Originally published as Dirt tracks an option for future ticket