A consortium led by the management of Brisbane's doomed Archerfield Speedway says it will establish a brand-new motorsport complex between the Queensland capital and the Gold Coast by the end of next year.
The new facility, billed as Australia's first multi-purpose motorsport park, will be called Loves Speedway and Motorsport Complex and is located at Loves Road, Alberton.
The consortium says the complex will host local, national and international events and cater for more than 40 competitive sports including speedway, eighth-mile (220m) street-legal drag racing, drifting, karting, supercross, motocross and monster trucks.
It has committed to building the facility at no cost to local ratepayers or taxpayers and with a "fans first" approach to planning and design, including a stadium that will offer "an unrivalled spectator experience".
Management promises the complex, once completed, will feature corporate facilities, meeting rooms, a club house, catering services, medical facilities, state-of-the-art LED lighting and a big screen, plus a large exhibition area to stage outdoor events including stunt shows and car shows, as well as driver and rider training.
"Our vision is to become the hub for automotive based activities," said the consortium, which is led by Archerfield Speedway managers John and Kathy Kelly, who are also recognised promoters and accomplished competitors, and local businessmen Scott Wilson and David Grose.
"This facility will create local jobs and generate millions of dollars in annual revenue for the city. The local community will also benefit from regular charity and non-profit organised events. These events have been encouraged by the local authorities, aimed at reducing community crime and driving related offenses.
"Our goal is to provide a complete venue for competitors, their families, friends and spectators looking for local entertainment. This project will ensure a bright future for motorsport in southeast Queensland."
The consortium lodged its final draft plan on Monday (May 4) and has been working with the Gold Coast City Council since October to meet a wide range of requirements including noise abatement, flood mitigation, floodlighting and parking.
The proposed facility is now on display and open to public support or objection for the next six weeks, but motoring.com.au understands the consortium has in-principle support from the council.
The extensive site, located to the east of the Pacific Highway and south of the Logan River, is on farming land currently owned by the Hecks family – owners of the Rocky Point sugar mill.
It is situated within an earmarked 'adrenalin precinct' that already includes the Holden Performance Driving Centre and Xtreme Karting complex at Norwell, and will also include the relocated Albion Park trotting track plus a shooting range and parachuting facilities.
If approved, the consortium plans to make the facility operational by September 2016, following the potential demise of Archerfield Speedway after the end of next season.
It says the family-friendly complex – which will comprise a stadium, seven-metre mound and 2.1-metre acoustic boundary fence – will take about eight months to build, creating more than 50 local jobs and sustaining a similar number once completed.
Apart from the Hatchers Raceway motorcycle flat track at Arundel, the facility will be the Gold Coast's first new motorsport complex since Surfers Paradise International Raceway succumbed to development in 1988 – and the only such facility in southeast Queensland apart from Queensland Raceway at Ipswich and Lakeside in Brisbane's north.