State Budget 2019: $33.4m funding fuel for Sydney Dragway and Sydney Motorsport Park

Eastern Creek’s motorsport precinct is set for a multimillion-dollar upgrade as part of a new State Government strategy. Read more here.

Eastern Creek’s motorsport precinct has received a $33.4 million boost in this year’s State Budget. Pictured: Sydney Dragway general manager Peter Beaumont, Prospect state Labor MP Hugh McDermott, Blacktown Mayor Stephen Bali, Sydney Dragway chairman Joseph Rodriquez and Australian drag racing champion Wayne Newby at Sydney Dragway. Picture: Angelo Velardo

• Doonside station upgrades overlooked in 2019 State Budget
• Blacktown Mall demolished in $76.5 million Warrick Ln revamp

Blacktown motorsport has received millions in funding fuel in this year’s State Budget.

The NSW Government last week committed $33.4 million in funding to upgrade Eastern Creek’s Sydney Dragway and Sydney Motorsport Park as part of its Sydney Motor Sport Strategy, when it handed down the 2019-20 budget.

The funding package will include $11 million to upgrade the Sydney Dragway, $16 million to install permanent lighting at Sydney Motorsport Park and $6.4 million to develop a motorsport Centre for Excellence.

Prospect state Labor MP Hugh McDermott and Blacktown Mayor Stephen Bali MP joined dragway representatives and Australian champion Wayne Newby on the Sydney Dragway track this week following the announcement.

Sydney Dragway general manager Peter Beaumont, Australian drag racing champion Wayne Newby, Prospect state Labor MP Hugh McDermott, Blacktown Mayor Stephen Bali and Sydney Dragway chairman Joseph Rodriquez. Picture: Angelo Velardo

Mr McDermott welcomed the funding and the anticipated boost it would bring to the local economy.

“Drag racing brings in tens of thousands of dollars every time there is a meet,” Mr McDermott said.

“There is huge potential to bring in more tourists to the raceway, which will inject hundreds of thousands of dollars into the local community.

“It will also provide thousand of jobs in related industries.”

Cr Bali also welcome the funding fuel injection, but said more investment was needed.

“It’s well-deserved because it’s one of the major tourist precincts in western Sydney,” Mr Bali said.

“It’s an extremely important outcome but it is just the first step — there is so much more that needs to be invested in this area to make sure it is at world-class standard.”

Australian drag racing champion Wayne Newby is expecting more records to be broken at the Sydney Dragway once upgrades are finalised next year. Picture: Angelo Velardo

Sydney Dragway chairman Joseph Rodriquez said the upgrades would improve track safety, lighting and timing equipment for competitors and amenities for spectators.

“The racing surface will be a lot more reliable and consistent, so we will see faster times and it will be terrific for the racer and the fan,” Mr Rodriquez said.

“It will definitely be the premier dragway in Australia. It will be state of the art.”

The works, expected to be complete in 2020, will mark the first upgrades to the dragway since its opening in 2004.

Australian drag racing champion and 30-year motorsport veteran Wayne Newby said the improvements were needed to keep up with ever-evolving motorsport technology.

“The cars keep getting faster and faster, but the track hasn’t really kept up, so it will make things safer,” Mr Newby said.

“We’ll have better braking areas, which will help the cars stop, as we’re going from 500 km/h trying to stop these cars.

“I think this track can go forward and hold new records in every class.”

Sydney Dragway general manager Peter Beaumont, Prospect state Labor MP Hugh McDermott and Blacktown Mayor Stephen Bali MP have welcomed $11 million in state funding. Picture: Angelo Velardo

Dragway general manager Peter Beaumont said the funding would boost the sport and help attract more international competitors.

“What we’re doing is taking things to another level, so we’ll truly be a competitor on an international scale,” Mr Beaumont said.

“We’ve already got racers coming out from America to Sydney Dragway to race. This is giving us an opportunity to make them feel more welcome and provide a better venue for them to come out to and participate at.”

As part of the strategy, a Centre for Excellence will be developed at the nearby Sydney Motorsport Park, which will be allow for further growth of the industry alongside Western Sydney University, TAFE and local businesses.

Mr McDermott said the centre would be vital in developing driving skills and giving revheads a place to put the pedal to the medal safely.

“The motorsport park is an integral part of driver training in western Sydney and the money that is going to be invested in the new academy will see more driver training for learners and

provisionals, but also people who want more skills in defensive driving,” he said.

“It will also bring more tourists into the area from China and Japan who want to get in a luxury sports car and drive it around the centre.

“On a Wednesday night, people with revved-up cars can bring them to the sports park and hoon around as much as they want and it take it off our streets.”

Sydney Motorsport Park attracts more than 333,000 visitors every year, while the Sydney Dragway hosts more than 35 events each year.