Speedway to close for Sydney Metro West facility
Sydney Speedway officials are still reeling after learning the iconic track will be demolished to make way for the Sydney Metro West rail line along with 92 other businesses and 23 homes. Plans for a protest tonight are underway.
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Furious Valvoline Raceway officials have warned the State Government’s failure to consult them about demolishing the track will throw the sport in Australia into disarray.
Speedway business director Felicity Waldron said the government had not indicated the track would be used for the Sydney Metro West rail line despite two years of renegotiating to renew a Crown land lease that expires in 2026.
Negotiations were undertaken in an effort to overhaul the dilapidated 42-year-old track with new stands, a hotel and a carpark.
But she and her husband Barry, who is also a principal at the site, only discovered the track would be cleared for a stabling and maintenance facility to operate opposite Rosehill Racecourse on Monday.
The centre will be bounded by James Ruse Drive, the M4, and Unwin and Shirley streets, and include the speedway site.
A Sydney Metro West spokesman said Speedway operators were notified about the project “the same time as all other affected parties”.
The government will acquire 23 residential properties and 93 businesses for the new railway corridor.
Mrs Waldron said she only received a call from a government official about 11am on Monday, two hours after Ms Berejiklian’s press conference announcing plans for the Metro.
“(We’re in) total shock,’’ Mrs Waldron said.
“We’ve been pushing and fighting for two years. We’ve wanted to do major improvements to the facility. In none of that two years have they ever said anything about the train.
“The government has never, ever said and they’ve had ample opportunity in renewing the lease. This is like an episode of The Castle.’’
Mrs Waldron said the track’s closure would adversely affect the sport across Australia.
“It’s Toowoomba, Murray Bridge,’’ she said.
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“It just impacts the whole sport in Australia, not just in Sydney.”
Motor racing fans have organised a rally at the track tonight (Tuesday) and are also circulating a petition to have the shock decision reversed.
The speedway’s property adviser John Elvy slammed the government’s “appalling” lack of consultation about the Metro project despite dealing with ministers Melinda Pavey, Rob Stokes and Parramatta state Liberal MP Geoff Lee.
“I think it’s appalling,’’ Mr Elvy said.
“The government needs to take some responsibility and be transparent. This Metro has been talked about for five years. They should have said ‘Look, we won’t give you approval for a new lease because it’s being considered for the Metro’.
“It’s an international speedway.”
The Sydney Metro West spokesman said construction work would not start before mid-2021.
“Sydney Metro’s preference is to reach a commercial agreement with affected land owners/tenants, as occurred with 85 per cent of people on the Sydney Metro Northwest project and 80 per cent of people on Sydney Metro City and Southwest project,’’ he said.
“Sydney Metro will work closely with all affected parties.”
The Clyde facility will provide power to the metro line and a water treatment plant would treat and recycle all wastewater from the tunnels, stations and underground facilities.
The facility would also house offices, parking and storage.
Devastated driver Alan Day, 54, has worked at the Sydney Speedway since he was 12 years old.
“My dad used to race here and I would prepare the track. When I was old enough I started racing,” he said. “Sydney is meant to be a shining star, but without a speedway we will get overtaken (by other cities).”
Fellow driver Danny Vassall met his wife at the track and now their children are involved in the sport.
“The next generation of Vassalls will also be affected — four year Brodie has a go cart already and is interested in racing, but he wont have a chance to race now — travelling interstate to race is not an option,” he said.
Opposition sport and recreation spokeswoman Lynda Voltz blasted the Berejiklian government for taking another venue from western Sydney.
“As was the case with the demolition of Parramatta War Memorial Pool – the Berejiklian Liberal Government has announced no plans to relocate the Speedway,’’ she said.
“It would appear no sport in the Sydney Basin is safe from the hands of the Berejiklian Government with the loss of another sporting precinct.’’
“This is heartbreaking news for the local motor sport community and particularly for the Waldron family who have recently put millions into upgrading the Speedway since 2014.”
Labor Leader Jodi McKay said the raceway was a place of pride for western Sydney.
“This is disrespectful and shows an appalling lack of consultation from Gladys Berejiklian. I fear for the impact on motor sport.”
There has been a race track at the site of the Granville Showgrounds since the 1930s. The Speedway’s clay surface was laid in the 1970s to accommodate sprint cars.
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