New racing track given green light in Melbourne’s southeast
The new $200 million Cardinia Motor Complex has been given the green light with the racetrack able to cater for up to 60,000 fans and include a four-star hotel.
Plans for the facility were approved back in December 2019, while the planning permit for stage one was ticked off by the Cardinia Council at Monday’s meeting, giving it the green light, with the track expected to open within two years.
A 70-room hotel up to 10 stories high, featuring a rooftop restaurant with 360-degree views and a pool, will overlook turn one, while the circuit will be able to accommodate up to 60,000 spectators across multiple viewing areas with the use of temporary grandstands.
The FIA Grade 2 circuit is expected to host between five and ten motor racing events each year and it’s believed talks have already commenced about hosting Supercars races, while the track will be of such a high standard that it can even host Formula One training.
To be located at 75-115 Key Lane, Pakenham, the 65ha venue will also be able to host festivals and concerts in its 60,000sq metre outdoor exhibition space.
The facility has been designed by renowned UK firm Apex Circuit Design and has well as the 3.6km main high-grade circuit, other features include a 1.5km rallycross circuit, 900m go karting circuit, pit building with garages, corporate facilities, indoor exhibition centre and education classrooms and 50 private trackside car storage garages with direct pit lane access. See more info here >
With the new track located within 1.5km of residential homes, some residents have raised concerns about noise levels, with the circuit able to operate until 11pm for two events a month.
Councillor Michael Schilling said noise levels had to be enforced to an “incredibly high standard”.
“Of course there will have to be these acoustic reports submitted to council and I really believe council need to be incredibly proactive … and make sure it is going to have minimal impact on local residents.”
The new facility will see three major motorsport tracks located within a two-hour drive, with Phillip Island an hour to the south and Sandown about 30 minutes to the north-west.
With the future of Sandown Racecourse clouded, with many predicting the MRC to sell the land at some point in the future, the new Cardinia Motor Complex may play an important part of Melbourne's future of motorsport.
