Land and Environment Court matter looms between Wakefield Park and Goulburn Mulwaree Council

Expansion plans for Wakefield Park will head to court after negotiations with Goulburn Mulwaree Council broke down. It comes as noise levels at the track well exceed council limits.

Wakefield Park raceway operators will surge ahead with a Land Environment Court appeal against a Goulburn Mulwaree council noise limit, which they say impacts expansion plans.

The two sides had been negotiating a solution that would have meant the area could be used for events other than racing.

However, the council released a statement on Wednesday which said events at Wakefield Park over the weekend saw noise levels being breached on 500 occasions.

The noise level reached on the weekend was 124.1dB(A), which exceeded the limit of 95dB(A), imposed in 1993.

“To provide perspective, 130 dB (A) is equivalent to a jumbo jet taking off,” the statement read.

The noise limit became a point of discussion after last year’s decision to only conditionally approve a development application by Wakefield Park, to expand the racing circuit, due to noise concerns from frustrated residents.

Races underway at Wakefield Park in Goulburn.

In Wakefield Park’s application, the owners, Benalla Auto Club, applied to expand the 2.2km motor racing circuit located at Braidwood Rd, Tirrannaville, to include community events that aren’t motorsport related.

Council approved the application on the condition that noise be kept to a minimum.

Wakefield Park would have to have 30 days of operations at up to 95 decibels (averaged over 15 minutes) – equivalent to the sound of a motorcycle – and 100 days at up to 85 dBa – the sound of city traffic while you are inside a car or the sound of a lawnmower.

The owners then disputed the conditional approval, instead wanting 75 days of noise up to 95dBA, rather than 30 days, which is what Council wanted.

Wednesday’s council statement also read that since November 2021, Wakefield Park’s monitoring equipment (noted on their website) has recorded that this threshold has continually been breached.

“Council has been very keen for over five years to reach a compromise and a workable solution to ensure Wakefield Park can live in harmony with its neighbours and continue to operate a successful and profitable business,” the statement read.

“Nobody, including the neighbours, have ever wanted Wakefield Park to stop operating as we all agree that this facility is good for the greater Goulburn Mulwaree economy.”

The council has issued Wakefield Park with a show-cause notice seeking an explanation as to why further regulatory action should not be pursued.

The Bowral News reached out for comment from Wakefield Park operations manager, Dean Chapman, however was told that he cannot comment just yet.

When discussion reignited around the topic at the February 1 council meeting, Mr Chapman enthusiastically commented on the council wanting to reach “amicable solutions.”

“I commend the councillors for discussing this, we’re hoping for a constructive conversation about trying to work towards a positive solution for residents, Wakefield and the rest of the Goulburn community,” Mr Chapman said.

“We just want another 25 years at Wakefield and what’s on the table at the moment is not workable long-term.”