The meeting was well attended by 34 interested community members representing the business, health, youth, horse riding, and general community sectors, as well as community organisations such as the Jockey Club.

Bombala Council has been working with the proponent of the development, which is planned for the racecourse land, for many years. In the last few months work has intensified and plans have become firmer.

As many readers will know, the racecourse land is a Crown Reserve managed by a section 355 committee of Council (trustees for the area).

The trustees had been consulted and have resolved that the reserve may be used for this purpose subject to proper planning strategies being undertaken for the purpose.

The section 355 committee will remain as the trustee organisation for the reserve, and the calendar of events for the various users of the reserve will be guaranteed under any proposed new use of the area.

Being a Crown Reserve the proposed activity can only be undertaken on a lease, the area returning to the Crown at the end of the lease.

The proponent, Mr Rob Colligan, has the backing of the Motorcycling Council of New South Wales and is very excited about the opportunities the development will bring to the area.

At the meeting he explained that the development, once completed, will cater for all forms of motorcycle sports, and that all facilities currently on site will need to be upgraded.

Mr Colligan also acknowledged that as the development grows, thought will also need to be given to the ultimate relocation of the Platypus Reserve. Two new viewing platforms would be constructed closer to town so that visitors would still be able to view the platypus when the major motorcycle events are being held at the venue.

Mr Colligan’s plans for the site focus around the hiring out of the facility to motorcycle sports clubs to hold their various events. He is anticipating that the track will be hired out on a regular basis, with normal hours of operation between 9am and 5pm.

Local employment will be generated via part time and full time employment, and will include flag marshals, catering, cleaning and administration positions.

While some funding is currently available additional funding needs to be sought, and Mr Colligan is actively exploring options through both the State and Federal Governments.

The state of the art facility will be constructed taking into account sustainability issues, and is likely to cost in the region of $6 million once fully completed.

Mr Colligan is currently looking at staging the development over a number of years.

He answered questions from those attending the meeting, including concerns from nearby residents about noise generation. Mr Colligan recognised that noise will be an issue, and that it will need to be addressed in the Development Application.

Council’s General Manager, Mr Don Cottee, informed the meeting that to enable the consideration of the project it is necessary for a plan of Management to be prepared for the reserve.

The first step of this process was the calling of the Public Meeting to gauge public support.

Mr Cottee stressed that the community would have a number of opportunities to express their views on the proposal. The first opportunity would be when the Plan of Management was placed on Public Display and submissions called for.

Following the Plan of Management, the proposed facility would then undertake the development application process when the community would again have the opportunity to comment.

Both Mr Cottee and Mr Colligan explained that the development would not happen overnight and that a lot more planning was yet required.

Mr Cottee anticipated that the preparation of the Plan of Management and the processes involved would take approximately six to nine months.

The meeting was very positive, with those attending agreeing that the proposal had a lot to offer, and as a result of this support Council is pleased to announce that work will now commence on the Plan of Management.