THE Swan Hill drag strip’s future is in limbo after the council made the decision to officially close the site in December last year.
The closure was a result of liability concerns due to the track’s condition and viability to host drag events.
Swan Hill Rural City Council invested an initial $400,000 in the track’s construction and Swan Hill Drag Racing Club contributed more than $200,000 with the vision to build a nationally accredited, quarter-mile drag strip that would bolster the region’s economy through tourism.
This was supported by a $2 million State Government grant.
Work took place between 2014 and 2016 and, during opening celebrations, problems with the track were identified.
An independent engineer’s report found the racing surface had shifted, issues relating to soil treatments, drainage, concrete-laying methods and the presence of rabbit burrows at the site, some of which might not have been removed or compacted with suitable material.
The report concluded that the track’s design and construction were unlikely to achieve the smooth riding conditions required for drag racing.
A further $500,000 was allocated by the council to undertake repairs, but further defects were discovered in 2019.
Plans to host the Melbourne Jamboree were cancelled after the council injected a further $170,000 to smooth the track, but signs the track was showing movement persisted.
The plans were shelved until 2021, when a proposal was brought to the council by SHDRC to invest a further $210,000 to proceed with building a viable track.
The council rejected the proposal and no further works have taken place at the site.
Council staff who oversaw the initial construction and repairs were no longer employed by the council and the decision to lease or sell the site were deemed unviable.
The assets at the site, including machinery, works already undertaken and infrastructure such as a timing system, remain the property of SHDRC and are estimated to be worth more than $500,000.
Where the council stands
At the council’s August meeting, Cr Ann Young said plans to conduct a strategic review of the Swan Hill Motorplex would take about 12 months to complete.
In considering Skid City’s proposal, Cr Nicole McKay raised concerns about the council’s jurisdiction to make a decision on a choice of lessee.
She supported an expression-of-interest process to allow other groups the opportunity to submit a “bid”.
She said she would have been more comfortable with a one-year lease to test the agreement before committing to a three-year agreement.
She went on record as believing there was a future for the complex, she was not against a commercial entity and was encouraged by Skid City’s interest.
Potential liability risks were raised as an ongoing concern and Cr Bill Moar read the letter of proposal from Skid City, which assured liability would not lie with the council or incur ratepayer cost.
The track was referred to as a disused asset and a “white elephant” with potential to progress to an international drag strip venue.
Cr Stuart King said a proposed lease would stipulate that access to and use of the facility be restricted to sanctioned events only, while allowing access to common areas shared with all Motorplex users.
Cr Young said the proposal offered an exciting prospect to local business and industry with the opportunity to attract future investment without cost or risk to ratepayers.
She said past correspondence indicated Swan Hill was identified as an ideal location for a national track and lent her support to the proposal.
Cr Les McPhee said progressing without a strategic review was like putting “the horse before the cart” and reiterated he did not wish to see the complex closed.
He said it was not right to proceed without being “fair” to other potential submissions and encouraged due process when deciding on future plans for the site.
Cr Moar assured the council that in looking at Skid City’s proposal, proper process would be undertaken.
He said it was a time to get some action on the site and referred to the current position as “kicking the can down the road in typical bureaucratic fashion”.
He said the previous track condition report, outlining all concerns, would be provided to Skid City for the group to decide about how to proceed with future works, which may result in them “ripping the track up and starting again”.
He reiterated that Skid City had the financial wherewithal and technical expertise to complete the works, which the council had never had.
Skid City’s view
Skid City consortium will meet expectations from the Australian National Drag Racing Association, the peak drag racing body, that liability would fall under the ANDRA umbrella and Swan Hill ratepayers would not be at risk if the track was brought up to standard and sanctioned racing continued at the site.
Works to bring the track to standard would be completed by experienced contractors and funded by independent investor Alex Berias through the consortium.
Additional future works would be completed through application to grants through the creation of a not-for-profit organisation, with the day-to-day management of the site being carried out by Swan Hill Drag Racing Club.
Maintenance duties currently being completed by volunteers would be allocated to two paid employees.
The site would would be used for low-speed burnout events while work was being undertaken to repair the strip to accredited standard.
Infrastructure to benefit all user groups would be built in consultation with other user groups where applicable.
Through its knowledge and connections in the drag-racing industry, Skid City intends to complete the development of Swan Hill Motorplex to a level where major sponsorship would be sought, high-level competitors would compete, and international drivers would be attracted.
Skid City has support from Robinvale resident and businessman Phil Lamattina, who won the ANDRA Top Fuel Group One Championship in 2009 and 2014.
Skid City’s long-term vision extends beyond drag racing and includes multiple racing formats and classes as well as the introduction of additional sports such as jet boat racing and exhibition events.
SHDRC would benefit from hosting track-side features such as food and bar facilities while event profits from race team entries would stay with the consortium to be reinvested back into the complex.
Skid City’s vision includes working with other user groups at the complex to develop a state-of-the-art venue with improvements to shared infrastructure and support with user groups to improve the quality of the facilities.
Skid City estimates the track could be operational by the end of 2025, pending investigation of the repairs needed.
