$250m Victorian motorsport project to be run by Tim Bamford on billionaire Lindsay Fox’s land

A $250m project to build a motorsports complex on land controlled by billionaire Lindsay Fox is being run by the former boss of an agency criticised by the Victorian auditor-general.

Avalon Airport, which may see a new motorsport complex near it. Picture: Alan Barber

A $250m project to build a motorsports complex on land controlled by billionaire Lindsay Fox is being run by the former boss of an agency criticised by the Victorian auditor-general for paying its bosses too much and doing too little.

Tim Bamford, who was executive director of Major Projects Victoria between 2012 and the agency’s abolition in 2017, has been named as project manager of the ambitious proposal, which would see a racetrack complex built on land leased by Mr Fox’s company Linfox next to its Avalon Airport.

In 2015, the then auditor-general, John Doyle, criticised MPV for spending almost $2.8m a year out of its $10m budget on nine top employees and contractors at the same time as it managed a diminishing number of major projects.

He slammed it for failing to clean up its act following an earlier review in 2012 that found it “lacked organisational integrity and accountability” and was at risk of fraud.

“Regrettably, little meaningful action has occurred to address the core weaknesses,” Mr Doyle said in his 2015 report, tabled in parliament.

Mr Bamford, who was named as project manager in a report by racing publication Speedcafe on Monday, was contacted for comment. There is no suggestion he has done anything wrong.

Motorsport Australia, which sources say has been lobbying hard for a new racing complex, declined to comment.

Tim Bamford in 2007, when he was chief executive of the Australian Grand Prix Corporation. Picture: Tanya Fry

“You’ll need to contact the State Government about this as they are the ones responsible for selecting the site,” a spokesman said.

The Andrews government is expected to make an announcement about the motorsports project within days.

It is unclear how it would be funded.

Sources with knowledge of the project said the only government funding set aside so far has been a small amount to fund a feasibility study.

And Government sources said the project had been ticked off, but confirmed the $250m needed to construct the site would not be included in this year’s horror budget.

It is understood that Linfox is keen to see development at Avalon that could help increase activity at the airport, but less keen to fund the idea.

Lindsay Fox.

The company is attracted to the idea of a racetrack because it would fit into the strict height limits imposed by air safety regulations and could encourage building other infrastructure such as hotels.

Avalon would also be a good location for racing because it is away from residents who could object to the noise – an increasing problem at Calder Park, in Melbourne’s northwest.

However, the company has not committed to tipping any money into the motorsports project, with sources saying it is aware that many proposals have been made to beef-up the airport precinct and it takes them all with a pinch of salt.

Last year the government successfully secured a record $100 million donation from Lindsay and Paul Fox for construction of the NGV Contemporary as part of a new $1.7 billion Melbourne Arts Precinct.

Sport Minister Steve Dimopoulos remained tight lipped about the project this week but said motorsports was close to the hearts of Victorians.

Mr Dimopoulos said there was a public commitment in last year’s budget for a feasibility study into a future home of motorsport.

“I have no announcements to make about anything further. I’m not in a position today to announce one way or the other where that feasibility will take place,” he said.