Daylesford Speedway facing ‘roadblocks’ to reopening six months after fatal crash closed track

Six months after a fatal crash at a popular Daylesford raceway, organisers say bureaucratic “roadblocks” and a lack of communication is preventing them from reopening.

Races at the Daylesford Speedway were put on hold after a fatal crash in February.

Six months after a fatal crash that killed a father and friend, engines remain silent at a popular regional raceway despite the best efforts of organisers against what they consider bureaucratic “roadblocks”.

Race meetings at Daylesford Speedway were put on hold after experienced driver Stephen Douglas, 48, died in a crash at the Basin Reserve track in February.

The president of the Daylesford Speedway Association, Steven Haynes, and the secretary, Aaron Meakins, have been in touch with governing body Speedway Australia and Hepburn Shire Council for several months, without, they say, receiving clear answers about why they are still not allowed to operate.

Stephen Douglas, 48, died when his car crashed while he was racing at Daylesford Speedway.

In June, Speedway Australia told Mr Haynes and Mr Meakins it had deemed the Daylesford Speedway no longer fit for purpose because of evidence gathered about the fatality and “unsafe on-track activities” at events prior, as well as consultation with authorities and its insurance broker.

It said it would issue a permit for a certain junior-level competition on the club’s infield track, but if racers wanted to use the main track, a dirt wall around its perimeter and certain angles had to be altered.

Mr Meakins said the Daylesford track met the minimum requirements and the club was progressing plans to upgrade it regardless.

In July, he and Mr Haynes were told they needed a track inspection report and an appropriate permit and insurance.

By a different person at the council they were later told the matter was in the hands of Victoria Police and the Coroners Court, although it is understood those bodies are not involved in the prevention of racing at the Daylesford venue.

Similarly, WorkSafe determined that no action was required on its part following the fatal February incident.

Racing at the Daylesford Speedway.

Mr Haynes said the club had all the current permits and insurance in place according to the terms of its lease.

“We keep getting roadblocks from the council just to reopen,” he said.

“They’ve said multiple stakeholders are holding us back. There’s absolutely no one holding us back except for Hepburn Shire.”

Mr Meakins said the council “keeps moving the goalposts”.

“If this happened on a footy field, would they close the footy field for six months?” he said.

“They don’t close a road for six months when there’s a road accident: they allow people to do their investigations, then it’s reopened.

“This shouldn’t be any different.”

Hepburn Shire Council CEO Bradley Thomas said the council had waived rental fees and charges for Daylesford Speedway Association, but that the group had “legal obligations and conditions under their lease which are currently outstanding”.

He did not specify those outstanding elements.

Speedway Australia was contacted for comment.