Moreton Bay’s mayor will meet with local State Members later this month in a bid to resolve the noise issues which are set to see racing at Lakeside suspended.

Queensland Raceways CEO John Tetley announced last month that racing activities at Lakeside Park have been subject to a ‘suspension’ for 2019 after the circuit incurred almost $30,000 worth of fines since August.

Tetley insists that the circuit is not closing per se as he campaigns for a change in the classification of the circuit from ‘Outdoor Entertainment Venue’ to ‘Sports Ground’, which would see its noise limit increase from 70dBA to 75dBA.

While local governments are responsible for enforcing noise limits, the relevant legislation is in fact enacted by Queensland’s state parliament.

As such, Moreton Bay Mayor Allan Sutherland will meet with State Members this month to seek a resolution to the issue.

“Moreton Bay Regional Council Mayor Allan Sutherland will be meeting with local State Members in November to discuss the concerns of the community around the noise management of Lakeside Park Raceway,” read a statement from a council spokesperson, in part, provided to Speedcafe.com (See below for full statement).

The statement confirms that the circuit was also in breach of the relevant limits in 2016 and 2017.

Those breaches were detected after council installed noise monitoring devices following a 2015 Queensland Ombudsman report which found that “council has not taken effective steps to collect data and monitor and evaluate noise levels from events.”

According to the statement, the meetings are aimed at “develop(ing) a solution which does not unduly impede the raceway’s operations or impact residents who have expressed concern about the noise levels.”

Lakeside Park opened in 1961 but closed in 2001 primarily due to financial issues, in part due to the opening of Queensland Raceway in Ipswich in 1999.

It reopened in 2008 after Queensland Raceways took out a 30-year-lease of the facility from then-owner Pine Rivers Shire Council, which subsequently amalgamated with other councils to form Moreton Bay Regional Council.

It was the latter body which granted approval to use the facility for motor racing again.

Full statement from Moreton Bay Regional Council

Moreton Bay Regional Council Mayor Allan Sutherland will be meeting with local State Members in November to discuss the concerns of the community around the noise management of Lakeside Park Raceway.

While Council has a regulatory responsibility to ensure the raceway complies with the relevant legislative requirements around noise management, that legislation was enacted by State Government.

Council has gone to considerable expense engaging acoustic consultants to carry out noise testing and also installing noise monitoring equipment.

Written warnings were issued to the operator in 2016 and 2017 following exceedances under the Environmental Protection Act 1994 requiring the operator to implement measures to reduce noise.

Fines are only issued when the noise levels from the raceway exceed permitted levels.

While infringements are administered by Council, infringement amounts are set by State Government.

Cr Sutherland is endeavouring to work with local State Members to develop a solution which does not unduly impede the raceway’s operations or impact residents who have expressed concern about the noise levels.