By Paul Dunlop
PAKENHAM’S sewerage farm could be an unlikely saviour for people pushing for a motorsports facility.
Cardinia Shire Council last week claimed the farm was a suitable site and represented the last land available under a direction given to the council by the state minister for planning, Rob Hulls.
Council will now approach South East Water to inquire about the site, on Kooweerup Road, becoming a home for the many motorsports enthusiasts in the region.
The move shapes as possibly the final roll of the dice for the council in its effort to resolve a longrunning and controversial issue.
With much of Cardinia Shire included in the green wedge zone, in which the construction of a motorsports facility is prohibited, council wrote in May to Mr Hulls asking whether he would support changes to the zone.
Mr Hulls’ response was that he was not prepared to amend the zone to give council discretionary power to allow a highimpact use such as a motorsports facility.
Councillors at their meeting on Monday, 15 August said that although supporting the notion of a regional facility, they were yet to be convinced the right site could be found in Cardinia Shire.
Mayor Garry Runge said the Cardinia Casey Working Party, set up to identify potential sites, had done everything it could but the options were limited.
Mr Hulls had advised the council in his letter to consider land in Public Use or Industrial 1 zones.
The sewerage farm comes under that category.
Councillors declared emphatically that the previously discussed Greenhills development in Pakenham was off limits because of plans to establish the South East Business Park on the land.
Cr Doug Hamilton said it was not appropriate to allow motorsports at Greenhills.
“We’re trying to create jobs in that area,” he said.
“It’s not the sort of facility you’d want.”
Cr Helen Ward said council had done everything in its power to try to locate a suitable site for motorsports.
“At the end of the day, instead of wasting time and resources and hitting our head against a brick wall, we’ve gone to the minister and said ‘Is this something we can do in a green wedge?’ and he has said ‘No’,” Cr Ward said.
“This puts paid to a motorsports facility in Cardinia, other than exploring the sewerage site.”
Cardinia Shire Council is also awaiting the outcome of a Victorian Civil and Administration Tribunal hearing to resolve an application by resident Wayne Maslen.
Mr Maslen is trying to set up a commercial motorcross track in Pakenham.