AVALON TRACK GETTING NEARER

The Victorian government is preparing to launch its plans for a new $500M Motorsport facility next to Avalon Airport. Andrew Clarke reports on what we know…

THE ACTION is heating up on the rumours surrounding a new Victorian Government funded motor racing facility on privately owned land near Avalon Airport.
Original figures before the state election indicated the facility would cost in the region of $300m, but rumours now have it moving past $500m.

The land believed to already be earmarked for the track is owned by Linfox Property Group. Reports are that the Government will enter into a PPP and effectively lease that land for 25 years with Motorsport Australia granted management rights. At the end of the 25 years, the full ownership of the facility will likely revert to Linfox.

Added to this is speculation surrounding Linfox and a reported possable sale of the Phillip Island Circuit to fund in part its proportion of the required investment.
Tony Quinn, who owns Queensland Raceway and three tracks in New Zealand, and the Peregrine Corporation, owned by the Shahin family, who built and operate The Bend Motorsport Park, have been mentioned as potential suitors.

HERE’S WHAT WE KNOW

• The Victorian Government allocated $1.7 million in its 2022/2023 budget to undertake design, master planning and site due diligence for the ‘Home of Victorian Motorsport.’
• At the time, Motorsport Australia CEO, Eugene Arocca, recognised the significance of the investment.
• “We have been working closely with the Victorian Government around discussions for a new motorsport venue in the state, which we know is sorely needed,” he said last year.
• “This funding announcement is a terrific show of support from the Andrews Government who, like us, can see the need for more facilities as motorsport’s popularity continues to grow.
• “The funding will allow the Victorian Government and Motorsport Australia to conduct preliminary work into finding a location for a Victorian Home of Motorsport and allow more people to enjoy more motorsport more often.”
• The details that remain hazy and what may be premature are the new facility’s location and the investment’s size, although the site next adjacent to Avalon airport makes sense politically (with strong ties between the Fox family and the Andrews Government) and logically, a car racing facility next to an airport is unlikely to have noise complaints.
• Government sources said a $500m investment – if the project had gotten that far – was unlikely to go unnoticed and doesn’t appear to be in the cycle for this year’s budget.
• They also added that they would expect significant private funding for such a venture, in effect stating the Government was unlikely to stump up the full investment.
• The Victorian Government, Linfox Property Group, Tony Quinn and Peregrine Corporation were contacted for comment but had not responded when we closed for press.

This story was first published in Auto Action magazine issue 1856, on sale Thursday 9th March. You can read this issue of Auto Action magazine here

BREAKING: Avalon confirmed for the home of Motorsport. Read full story.

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