Deputy premier weighs in on motorsport park debate amid furore

Project leaders met with Beachmere residents for an information session on Monday.

Transport business owner Andrew Corbet of Corbet’s Group is privately funding the multi-purpose motorsport park, which is estimated to cost $20 million.

The meeting, which went for more than an hour, was overshadowed by heckling from frustrated community members.

A variety of issues were raised relating to noise, traffic, flooding risk, environmental impact and property devaluation.

There were complaints from attendees that they were not aware of the proposal.

Member for Pumicestone Ariana Doolan wrote to the Deputy Premier a day after the meeting calling for an extension to the public consultation, which closes on June 11.

Asked on Wednesday whether that extension would happen, Bleijie said he would not oppose it.

“If that’s what the local community wants, I’ve got no problem extending that,” he said.

The proposal has bypassed the local council and been submitted via the Ministerial Infrastructure Designation (MID) process for approval.

Bleijie is the Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning, and Minister for Industrial Relations.

While he would not say whether he supported the proposal, the decision will sit with him.

“I’m not going to offer a view because ultimately it has to be determined through the MID, but I do note there is some community concern about it,” he said today.

“There has been a residents’ meeting, so I’m weighing that up at the moment and we are in a public consultation phase.

“I’m very keen to hear what the community wants and wishes, and very keen to hear about the concerns of the community.

“We’ll listen to the community, get feedback from the community and then my department will look at all that feedback and bring recommendations up to me.”

During the meeting, Ariana Doolan revealed feeback had been overwhelmingly positive with more than 75 percent of submissions in favour.

In the days since the meeting, Moreton Motorsport Park released renders of what the venue could look like once completed.

If approved, earthworks would begin later this year with a view towards opening in 2028.