Latest news with #BurswoodPark
ABC News
17-05-2025
- Politics
- ABC News
Burswood street motorsport circuit divides opinion as government tries to switch focus
The WA government is ploughing ahead with its controversial $217 million plan to build a street motorsport circuit in Perth's Burswood Park, but don't dare call it a motorplex. That was the sentiment from Thursday's announcement that the consultation process was opening for one of the government's biggest election promises. There are differing opinions about the project, but the state government believes all are crystal clear on one thing. "It's not a motorplex. It's not a motorplex at all," deputy Premier Rita Saffioti said on Thursday. "It's a sports and entertainment precinct that will help drive activity and create new opportunities to host events into the future." Dubbed "Rita's racetrack" by some, the project has drawn the ire of locals worried about noise from the track and the environmental impact of construction. There had initially been strong messaging about the boon the racetrack and motorsport facilities would be for tourism in WA, with Premier Roger Cook arriving at the first media event for the plan in a V8 supercar. But as the project officially enters the community and stakeholder consultation phase, proponents have pivoted to focus on spruiking the facility's multipurpose potential. It's these elements — including a large amphitheatre for live music and a building for other sporting and community events — that locals have no qualms about. Along with the WA Sportscar Club, Mr Cook was flanked by representatives of the WA Association of Musica and West Cycle for this week's update on the project. "When complete, Burswood Park will be host to more major sporting events, more live music, and importantly, more community functions, creating an entertainment hub," Mr Cook said on Thursday. "I think people will say that this is an incredible project for the state," Ms Saffioti said. But frustrated locals aren't buying it, and it's one thing the state opposition and the Greens WA are united on. Opposition leader Basil Zempilas accused the state government of retrofitting its plans "to try and cover up for their own failures" and "save face". "They have not been clean with the public of Western Australia on the issue," he said on Thursday. "It is all spin. They did not announce [the proposal] with microphones singing. They did not announce on push bikes. They announced in a V8 supercar." Greens WA MLC Brad Pettitt said the project would still be "dominated" by the racetrack, and said not acknowledging this was "disingenuous". He said the Greens would consider teaming up with the Liberals and others to push for a select inquiry into the issue. "This one's become a really acute project, one that I think has become symbolic of this government's disregard for the community, disregard for green spaces and their willingness to just concrete over everything," he said. Some residents had threatened to boycott Labor at the March 8 poll in protest at the racetrack, but incumbent Hannah Beazley comfortably retained the seat of Victoria Park, although there was a 10 per cent swing to the Liberals, and an 8 per cent swing to the Greens. This could be seen as a mandate for the state government to charge on with the racetrack. But Town of Victoria Park Mayor Karen Vernon said locals felt robbed of their ability to have their say prior to the racetrack becoming an election issue. She said the community held little hope the consultation now being conducted would be anything other than an "administrative exercise". "I think the fundamental issue that the community has ventilated long and loud, both throughout the election campaign and since then is their concern about the motorsport street circuit," she said. "Now we hear that the community consultation does go to shaping things like what type of trees you want there, what's important to you, is accessibility important to you, is public transport important to you? "We would say our community has said all those things are important to us." Given the lingering community sentiment and appetite for a political stoush, it's unlikely "Rita's racetrack" will fade from the headlines any time soon. Community consultation is due to close next month.
ABC News
15-05-2025
- Automotive
- ABC News
Burswood motorsport street circuit not being rebranded, WA government says
The WA government has rejected suggestions it is attempting to rebrand its proposed facility in Perth's Burswood Park as a multi-use community hub, rather than a motorsport-focused street circuit. It came as the government announced it was opening the community consultation process for the controversial new facility, which has attracted backlash and became the target of attacks from opposing political parties and some residents of the area heading into the state election earlier this year. Previous government promotions and media releases were largely focused on the motorsport facility. In a social media post from January 12, Deputy Premier Rita Saffioti shared a promotional poster saying "A re-elected Labor Government will build a Motorsport Street Circuit and Burswood Park", with the opening line of her post also focused on the street circuit before later detailing other facilities included in the proposal. Those included multi-use event infrastructure, a function centre, and a 20,000 capacity outdoor music amphitheatre all based in the area near Perth's premier sporting and entertainment facility, Perth Stadium. At the time the government emphasised the facility could potentially be used for V8 Supercars, Formula E and Moto GP events, and it was hoped the circuit could be open in time for the 2027 Supercars season. Despite its attempts to focus on more widespread community benefits at today's announcement, Ms Saffioti denied that was a reaction to the backlash from earlier this year. "There were some people who wanted to call it a motorplex. It's not a motorplex, it's not a motorplex at all," Ms Saffioti said. "It's a sports and entertainment precinct that will help drive activity and create new opportunities to host events into the future. Ms Saffioti said for most of the year the area would be closed to motor vehicles, creating an area of activity for recreational cyclists and children, while also being able to host music and community events. She said much of the opposition to the project had been politically motivated, and backed by parties opposed to Labor. "When people understand the breadth of the project, and the fact this builds on this area being a sporting and entertainment precinct, most residents will understand that this will be a major positive to the community," Ms Saffioti said. "There were some that wanted to use it as a party political platform during a state and federal election, and I would say that because the flyers that were distributed were party political."
