Dragway dumped after study
Markus Mannheim

The future of Canberra's dragway now rests in the hands of the Commonwealth, after the ACT Government abandoned its plans to build the facility in the Majura Valley.

Sport and Recreation Minister Andrew Barr will formally reject the contentious project today on the grounds that it would be too loud and cost taxpayers too much money.

In contrast, the ACT Liberals have committed to building the strip if they win the 2008 election, regardless of its costs or noise levels.

Northern suburbs residents, who have spent the past two years campaigning against the proposal, reacted with "huge relief" last night.

But motorsport enthusiasts described the decision as a "cop out", and warned that the issue was far from resolved.

The long-awaited report into the environmental and financial viability of the dragway found it would not meet current noise pollution standards.

The study, which was completed in October, also found the facility would need an extra $900,000 to $6.8million of taxpayer funds, on top of the $8million allocated in 2004.

The preferred option a 14 mile internationally licensed track with lights would cost an estimated $12.88million, while the minimal option a 18 mile nationally licensed track would probably cost $9.31million.

However, the report also found that the drag strip was likely to be financially viable if it was built.

Mr Barr said yesterday he had exhausted all options, and would lobby the Federal Government to allow the dragway to operate at its former site near the Canberra airport.

The former facility closed in 1998, and the Commonwealth land on which it was based has remained unused.

Mr Barr said the environmental impact study gave him no choice but to rule out the Majura site.

"We would have to effectively rewrite the noise rules and be disrupting the lives of all residents in that valley, as well as a significant portion of north Canberra residents."

The manager of the previous dragway, Geoff Develin, said yesterday he did not want to make specific comments until he had seen the Government's report.

But he argued it would "defy logic" to declare the Majura proposal to be financially unsound or too loud.

While the former dragway had been 1.4km from the nearest ACT residents in Piallago, the new site was 3.7km from the closest suburb, Hackett, and "with a mountain in-between", he said.

"We had a dragway, fully funded by the Canberra community, and it was wrongfully closed. We operated in full compliance with the ACT motorsport noise policy ... and there was not one single noise complaint for the life of the dragway."

But the northern suburbs activist group, Dragwayaway, responded with "delight" at the news last night.

Spokeswoman Nicki Mazur, of Hackett, said residents were "thrilled" their concerns had been heard.

It wouldn't be a good idea for your fuel or tyre bills fordfreak, you'd be down here every other week.

If anyone is interested, I'm arranging (through CanberraCruises) to get some stickers made expressing our disgust.

See here for details and to order one.
http://www.canberracruises.com/forum/sh ... php?t=4487

I take it we'll see you done for 'nats.

And no, I don't know anyone who'll sponsor me for 19" rubber.

they wan't to try and stop illegal street dragging yet they ignore the perfect way to satisfy both parties. People wan't to see the potential of their vehicle one way or the other.

Now think.... How to get my car + sticker on the news.....