Summernats founder Chic Henry has put a multi-million dollar motorsports complex firmly on the future agenda for Canberra should the Belco Party win a seat in the ACT Assembly in the upcoming election.
A dedicated international-standard motorsports complex for the territory, with an integrated business hub to attract automotive and engineering companies, has been part of Mr Henry's dream for the ACT for decades.
He believes it would cost around $200 million to develop a world-class multi-use facility.
Mr Henry is standing for Bill Stefaniak's Belco Party in the forthcoming election. Mr Stefaniak has confirmed that the proposed motorsport facility would be part of any parliamentary agreement should the Belco Party win the balance of power in the election.
The Canberra Liberals were non-committal about the idea, but said they would "examine this proposal closely".
"Motorsport is a major industry in Australia and Canberra should get its share of the action," Mr Henry said.
"It is worth jobs for Canberra, and revenue for Canberra.
"Motorsport also generates associated businesses, engineering and technology industry, fields vital for the diversification of the local economy and jobs for young Canberrans.
"Businesses would be encouraged to locate on the site and create a motorsport business hub."
He said that he understood "motorsport is not necessarily everybody's cup of tea".
"However, I honestly believe that a carefully located world-class motorsports complex would add a dimension to the city that would contribute to making Canberra a genuinely great global city," he said.
Canberra and the Queanbeyan region has produced some world class motorsport talent, most notably Formula One star Mark Webber who during his career competed in 215 grands prix for nine wins, 42 podiums, 13 pole positions and 19 fastest laps.
The ACT has also produced four times Australian rally champion Neal Bates, whose eldest son, Harry, is the reigning national titleholder.
There are just three dedicated places to race within the ACT: the dirt speedway oval and the kart racing track at Fairbairn, both of which are forced to curtail their meetings and operate under noise control restrictions because of complaints from NSW residents, and the nearby small hillclimb track.
The ACT had once been a thriving hub of regional motorsport with a busy drag strip, the Tralee international speedway and more recently, a round of the V8 Supercar series on a temporary city street circuit between 2000 and 2002.
World class rally drivers such as Finland's Ari Vatanen also came to Canberra during the late 1980s and 1990s to compete.
Canberra International Dragway opened in 1992 and closed six years later, under pressure from the nearby airport. It alone attracted an estimated $1.5 million a year in visitor revenue.
In an address to the ACT Assembly as the dragstrip was in its death throes, former Minister Simon Corbell said that he supported giving the drag racing fraternity a permanent home in the ACT, a concept which would be wrapped within Mr Henry's proposal.
"I am no revhead - I am sure that most people in the Assembly would recognise that - but I do recognise that it is important to provide in a place such as the ACT venues for people to perform and to experience their sports, the things that interest them, in a safe way," Mr Corbell said at the time.
Mr Henry believes a multi-use facility could be developed as a privately and publicly funded partnership and a location could be found "well away from residential areas to avoid any disturbance to the general population".
"This complex would have an international standard raceway, dragstrip, jet boat course, and function centre," he said.
"Other attractions could include motocross and motorcycle events and an outdoor performance area for large scale events such as monster trucks. It would also be ideal for historic car events and rallies.
"Over 4.9 million Australians watch motorsports including Formula One racing, V8 Supercars, the Bathurst 1000, drag racing and rally cars on TV."
The most recent motorsports complex to be built in Australia is at Tailem Bend, about 100kms from Adelaide. Opened in 2018, it cost around $100 million, is still being grown and developed, and is designed to host international categories such as the World Endurance Championship, IndyCar, and MotoGP.
Aside from motor racing, the 4.9 km circuit is used for vehicle safety testing and major automotive corporate events.
